Hyponym
[HAHY-pə-nim]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Greek, 20th century
1.
A word of more specific meaning than a general or superordinate term applicable to it. For example, “spoon” is a hyponym of “cutlery.”
Examples of Hyponym in a sentence
"‘Human being’ is a hyponym of many things, including ‘animal’ and ‘primate.’"
"‘Tabby,’ ‘tortoise-shell,’ and ‘Siamese’ are three of the many hyponyms of the word ‘cat.’"
About Hyponym
“Hyponym” was formed by combining two ancient Greek terms: “ὑπό” (“hupó,” meaning “under”) and “ὄνυμα” (“ónuma,” meaning “appellation”).
Did you Know?
A hyponym describes a thing that is a subgrouping or subclass of another greater thing. For example, “man,” “woman,” and “child” are all hyponyms of “person,” and “person” is a hyponym of “animal” and “primate.” In order for something to be a hyponym, it must belong to a more specific group than the larger group described by the original term. “Baseball player” is a hyponym of “professional athlete,” while “pitcher,” “catcher,” “fielder,” and “batter” are all hyponyms of “baseball player.”
