Hyponyms are words that are the specific examples of a general word, a 'superordinate'. They can be compared with synonyms, which mean the same things, and antonyms, which mean opposite things.
In simpler terms, a hyponym is in a type-of relationship with its hypernym. For example: pigeon, crow, eagle, and seagull are all hyponyms of bird, their hypernym; which itself is a hyponym of animal, its hypernym.
