hyponym

A hyponym is a word that is a subcategory of a more general category. Cookie, for example, would be a hyponym of the more general category of dessert. A cookie is a kind of dessert.

In linguistics, a hyponym is any term that is a category that is a smaller part of a more general category. Couch and chair are hyponyms of living room furniture, and living room furniture is a hyponym of furniture. 

Every hyponym has a corresponding hypernym, a term that is the higher or more general category that the hyponym is a part of. For example, medium, meaning a means of communication, is a hypernym for terms like movie, book, and television, which are all hyponyms of medium.

Example: Fruits and flowers are hyponyms of plants.

The first records of the term hyponym are from around the 1960s. It combines the prefix hyp-, meaning “under,” and the combining form -onym, meaning “word” or “name.” A hyponym is a word that is under another word in a categorical hierarchy.

Hyponyms and hypernyms are another way to categorize words. We can also categorize words as antonyms (words with opposite meanings), synonyms (words with similar meanings), and homonyms (words that sound or are spelled alike but have different meanings). 

Hyponyms and hypernyms are a good way to put an idea or word into context for someone to help them understand the intended meaning.

What are some other forms related to hyponym?

• hyponymous (adjective)

What are some words that share a root or word element with hyponym? 

• hyponymy
• hypernym
• hypothermia
• pseudonym
• homonym

What are some words that often get used in discussing hyponym?

• category
• hierarchy
• type

Hyponym is used in similar contexts as synonym or antonym but is used less frequently.

In Britain, all desserts are #pudding but in Canada only pudding is pudding and dessert is dessert, although pudding can be a dessert. British pudding is a synonym for dessert; Candian pudding is a hyponym of dessert. There you go. #vss365

— M.S. Salieri (@MSSalieri) December 23, 2019

Realised this morning the Toddler is doing classic overextension of a hyponym and using "strawberries" to refer to; strawbs, rasps, blackberries and…. grapes. The 4th one had me puzzled for quite a while! #ALevelLang #ChildLangAcquisition

— Velda Elliott (@veldaelliott) September 1, 2020

Red is a hyponym of color.
Lion is a hyponym of feline.

— mezors 🏴 (@mezors) December 10, 2014

Updated on February 27, 2023

True or False?

Outfit is a hyponym for socks.