A hypernym (in Greek υπερνύμιον, literally meaning 'extra name') is a linguistic term for a word whose meaning includes the meanings of other words, as the meaning of transportation includes the meaning of train, chariot, dogsled, airplane, and automobile.

Hypernym is the opposite of hyponym, a word whose meaning is included by another. Thus, plant is hypernymic to flower, while tulip is hyponymic to flower.

Another name for a hypernym is a superordinate.

See also

• -onym
• synonym