Metonymy

Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with that thing or concept. The word metonymy comes from the Greek metōnymía, meaning "a change of name". It is a type of trope and is used in rhetoric.

Definition and usage

Metonymy involves the substitution of one word for another with which it is associated. For example, "the crown" can be used to refer to a monarch, "the White House" can refer to the U.S. presidency, and "Hollywood" can refer to the American film industry. This is different from synecdoche, where a part of something is used to refer to the whole, or vice versa.

Types of metonymy

There are several types of metonymy, including synecdochic metonymy, where a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, and referential metonymy, where the thing chosen for the metonymic substitution is closely associated with (but not part of) the subject with which it is to be identified.

Examples

Some common examples of metonymy include using "the press" to refer to journalists, "the law" to refer to the police, and "the pen" to refer to writing or written communication.

See also

• Figure of speech
• Rhetoric
• Synecdoche
• Trope (literature)

References

Metonymy Resources
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