metonyms

Metonyms are a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it or a material that constitutes it. This use relies on contiguity or association rather than similarity. The term comes from Greek metron, meaning measure, and onoma, meaning name.

Common forms of metonymy include: a place standing for an institution (the White House announced new policy; the Crown for the monarchy); a material for a thing made from it (the silver screen for cinema; a wooden desk for bureaucratic authority); an instrument for its user (the pen is mightier than the sword; writing to express); or a person for their role (the President addressed the nation; the board approved the plan). Metonymy is widely found in everyday language, journalism, literature, and branding, and can reflect cultural associations, historical context, or political reality.

Metonymy is often contrasted with metaphor, which draws a comparison based on likeness rather than association. It is additionally related to synecdoche, a figure of speech that uses a part to represent the whole or vice versa; synecdoche is sometimes treated as a subset of metonymy. Example contrasts: “the White House announced” (metonymy) vs. “a teams of players won the game” (synecdoche if “hands” or “players” stands for the whole team).

In practice, metonymy enriches language by enabling concise, vivid references through familiar associations. It is a versatile tool across literary and everyday expression.