What does "antonym" mean?

The term "antonym" refers specifically to a word that means the opposite of another word. For instance, in the case of "hot," its antonym would be "cold." Understanding this concept is essential in vocabulary development, as recognizing antonyms helps in understanding the meaning and context of words more comprehensively. This contrasts with synonyms, which are words that have similar meanings, and unrelated words, which do not have a direct comparison or connection in meaning. The idea of a word being rarely used does not pertain to the definition of an antonym at all, as the frequency of use does not impact the relational meaning of words.