metonym

American  

[met-uh-nim] / ˈmɛt ə nɪm /

noun

1. a word or phrase used in metonymy, a figure of speech in which the name of one object or concept is used for that of another to which it is related.

   “The crown” is a metonym for “royalty.”

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metonym British  

/ ˈmɛtənɪm /

noun

1. a word used in a metonymy. For example the bottle is a metonym for alcoholic drink

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Usage

What is a metonym? A metonym is a word or phrase that is used to stand for something that it’s associated with or related to. For example, the White House is a metonym for the current U. S. president or presidential administration. Metonyms are figures of speech (words or phrases used in expressive, often non-literal ways). The use of metonyms is called metonymy. Metonyms can be specific (like using Hollywood to mean the U. S. film industry) or general (like using suit to mean a businessperson). A metonym is one of many rhetorical devices that we use daily in ordinary speech and writing, often without realizing it.

Etymology

Origin of metonym

First recorded in 1830–40; back formation from metonymy

Explanation

A metonym is a figure of speech in which an object or idea represents a larger concept that's related to it. Do you know someone who refers to her car as her "ride"? She's using a metonym. Once you start looking for metonyms, you'll realize how common they are. Ever heard the phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword"? Here, "the pen" is a metonym for writing in general, and "the sword" stands for war or violence. Have you ever read a book that referred to a monarch as "the crown"? Or heard a newscaster talk about the White House making a comment? These are also metonyms. The Greek root, metonymia, means "a change of name."

Example Sentences

“Hollywood” is a metonym for America in “The Sympathizer”; it is the country’s front door, its export and its weapon.

From New York Times • May 6, 2024

It’s more metonym for the glamorous arrivals than a literal description of what everyone is walking on.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2023

Thus, some scientists say that Gaia, the mother of life, is a poor choice of deity to serve as a metonym for Earth.

From Salon • Dec. 19, 2022

The ensemble is a visual metonym for the project’s opacity: She reveals so little that it’s the lack of disclosure that becomes most conspicuous.

From Washington Post • Jan. 28, 2022

"Bartús" is evidently formed "on the weight" of "Bartút;" and his metonym is a caricature, a chaff fit for Fellahe.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 09 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir