a generic entity type (such as EMPLOYEE) that is subdivided into subtypes

a structured type for which other structured types, called subtypes , have been defined

a type that is a parent of another type

Context A term in ontology. Definition A supertype A of another type B is either:"B" itself (i.e., B is always a supertype of itself), or A type that is higher in the type-hierarchy than B, and there is a path of "subtype-links" downwards from A to B. Example For example, "Mammal" is a supertype of "Elephant", and "Animal is a supertype of "Mammal" (and of "Elephant, since there is a path downwards from Animal to Elephant). This can be illustrated as follows: "Simple lattice of types" Entity The one type which is a supertype of everything else is Entity.