Metonymy
noun
A way of expressing something by mentioning something else which is a very close idea or has close association.
In the phrase 'the crown will decide', 'the crown' is a metonymy referring to the power and authority of a king or queen.
Often appears as...
- use of metonymy
- common metonymy
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A kind of metaphor in which an associated detail is used to describe the whole thing.
Using 'Washington' to refer to the US government is an example of metonymy.
Often appears as...
- example of metonymy
- metonymy in poetry
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
noun
A way of expressing something by mentioning something else which is a very close idea or has close association.
In the phrase 'the crown will decide', 'the crown' is a metonymy referring to the power and authority of a king or queen.
Often appears as...
- use of metonymy
- common metonymy
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A kind of metaphor in which an associated detail is used to describe the whole thing.
Using 'Washington' to refer to the US government is an example of metonymy.
Often appears as...
- example of metonymy
- metonymy in poetry
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Associations
Metonymies often rely on cultural knowledge, like using 'the pen' for writers or 'the press' for journalism.
In debates, 'the pen' is mightier than 'the sword.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Literal
Metonymy isn't literal; it uses one concept to stand for another related concept.
The 'suit' walked into the room, meaning a businessperson.
Pro Tip 3/3Parts for Whole
Sometimes just a part of something is used to represent the whole, like 'wheels' for car.
Nice 'wheels'—did you just get the car?
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Associations
Metonymies often rely on cultural knowledge, like using 'the pen' for writers or 'the press' for journalism.
In debates, 'the pen' is mightier than 'the sword.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Literal
Metonymy isn't literal; it uses one concept to stand for another related concept.
The 'suit' walked into the room, meaning a businessperson.
Pro Tip 3/3Parts for Whole
Sometimes just a part of something is used to represent the whole, like 'wheels' for car.
Nice 'wheels'—did you just get the car?
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Associations
Metonymies often rely on cultural knowledge, like using 'the pen' for writers or 'the press' for journalism.
In debates, 'the pen' is mightier than 'the sword.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Literal
Metonymy isn't literal; it uses one concept to stand for another related concept.
The 'suit' walked into the room, meaning a businessperson.
Pro Tip 3/3Parts for Whole
Sometimes just a part of something is used to represent the whole, like 'wheels' for car.
Nice 'wheels'—did you just get the car?
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Quote examples
P. J. O'Rourke
American Comedian
Preachers at black churches are the last people left in the English-speaking world who know the schemes and tropes of classical rhetoric: parallelism, antithesis, epistrophe, synecdoche, metonymy, periphrasis, litotes - the whole bag of tricks.
Quote examples
Joshua Cohen
American Writer
Metaphors, similes, puns - all manner of metonymy - I'm interested in language that cannot be parsed by a machine - language that can only be understood through acculturation.
Quote examples
P. J. O'Rourke
American Comedian
Preachers at black churches are the last people left in the English-speaking world who know the schemes and tropes of classical rhetoric: parallelism, antithesis, epistrophe, synecdoche, metonymy, periphrasis, litotes - the whole bag of tricks.
Quote examples
Joshua Cohen
American Writer
Metaphors, similes, puns - all manner of metonymy - I'm interested in language that cannot be parsed by a machine - language that can only be understood through acculturation.
Example 1 of 2
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