Metonymy

Definition of Metonymy a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept. a figure of speech in which a part represents a whole or a whole represents a part.

The words "metonymy" and "metonym" come from the Greek: μετωνυμία, metōnymía, "a change of name Metonymy may be contrasted with metaphor. Both figures involve the substitution of one term for another. In metaphor, this substitution is based on some specific similarity, whereas, in metonymy, the substitution is based on some understood association.

The bottle for alcoholic drink. The press for journalism. A skirt for a woman. Mozart for Mozart's music. The Oval Office for the US Presidency.

Some Examples Money just walked in - A rich person has entered the room. "He writes a fine hand" - good handwriting. "The pen is mightier than the sword" - literary power is superior to military force. He is a man of the cloth - a man of the church.

The term White House actually refers to the authorities who work in the building called the White House.

People might say they are going to the capitol when they are actually talking about going to the city of Washington, D.C.

"Hollywood" is used as a metonym (an instance of metonymy) for American cinema, because of the fame and cultural identity of Hollywood, a district of Los Angeles, California as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars. HollywoodAmerican cinemaLos Angeles, California Hollywood is used as a metonymy for American cinema, because of the fame and cultural identity of Hollywood, as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars.

Naughty Metonymy Poem Today I saw a sexy skirt Strolling down the street. She had a lovely pair of twins Bouncing to the beat. (Skirt is a metonymy for girl or woman Twins is a metonymy for boobs)

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