Metonimi

Metonimi, or metonymy, is a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it or by an attribute of it. The substitution relies on contiguity or association rather than resemblance, which distinguishes metonymy from metaphor.

Common patterns include designating an institution or its activity by a representative symbol, naming a place to invoke its organization, or using an object linked to an attribute to stand for the concept itself. Examples include “the White House announced new policy” (the presidency or executive branch); “Hollywood released a new film” (the film industry); “the crown” for monarchy; “the pen” for writing; or “the bottle” for alcohol. Part for whole or whole for part can also occur; this is often treated as a subtype called synecdoche, which is closely related to metonymy.

Originating from the Greek metonymia, meaning “change of name,” metonymy appears across languages and genres, from classical rhetoric to journalism, literature, advertising, and everyday speech. It serves to compress information, create vivid imagery, and harness culturally recognizable associations, enabling concise and impactful expression.

In usage, metonymy coexists with related figures such as metaphor and synecdoche, and its effectiveness often depends on shared cultural knowledge. It is a common device in discourse, capable of shaping tone, emphasis, and interpretive nuance.