HYPERNYM ----
[Hyper- Over; -Onym: Name]
Hypernym is a word that denotes a general category.
Hypernym [singular] | Hypernyms [plural]
Examples: game, bird, etc.
Hypernym is also called 'Generic term', 'Super-ordinate', 'Super-type', or 'Superset'.
Derived terms related to 'Hypernyms':
Hypernymous
Words that are hypernyms are said to be hypernymous.
Hypernymy
The state of being a hypernym is called hypernymy.
HYPONYM ----
[Hypo- Under; -Onym: Name]
Hyponym is a word that denotes a particular item from a general category.
Hyponym [singular] | Hyponyms [plural]
Examples: football/hockey/cricket, eagle/peacock/sparrow, etc.
Hyponym is also called 'Subordinate', 'Subtype' or 'Subset'.
Derived terms related to 'Hyponyms':
Hyponymous
Words that are hyponyms are said to be hyponymous.
Hyponymy
The state of being a hyponym is called hyponymy.
In the above examples, 'game' is the hypernym (or supertype) of 'cricket', 'football' and 'hockey'.
'Cricket', 'football' and 'hockey' are hyponyms (or subtypes) of 'game'.
Similarly, 'bird' is the hypernym (or supertype) of 'eagle', 'peacock' and 'sparrow'.
'Eagle', 'peacock' and 'sparrow' are hyponyms (or subtypes) of 'bird'.
IMPORTANT NOTE 1:
The relationship between hypernym and hyponym is termed as 'is-a relationship'.
Pattern:
Hyponym + is-a/an + Hypernym
Example 1:
Hypernym: game
Hyponym: cricket, football, hockey
Cricket is a game.
Football is a game.
Hockey is a game.
Example 2:
Hypernym: bird
Hyponym: eagle, peacock, sparrow
Eagle is a bird.
Peacock is a bird.
Sparrow is a bird.