John McIntyre (copy editor)

A hypernym is a word that is more general than another word—its hyponym. It is a broader term that encompasses the more specific meaning of its hyponym. The relationship between a hypernym and its hyponym is one of inclusion; the hypernym includes the hyponym within its meaning.

For example, "animal" is a hypernym of "dog," "cat," "bird," and countless other words. "Fruit" is a hypernym of "apple," "banana," "orange," etc. The hypernym sits higher in a hierarchical structure of meaning, encompassing a wider range of terms. Understanding hypernyms is crucial for understanding semantic relationships and the structure of a language's lexicon. Identifying hypernyms can be valuable for tasks such as text analysis, information retrieval, and knowledge representation. Determining the appropriate hypernym often depends on context and the desired level of granularity.