Metonymy

Metonymy (/mɪˈtɒnɪmi, mɛ-/)[1][2][3] is a figure of speech in which a concept is referred to by the name of something associated with that thing or concept.[4] For example, the word "suit" may refer to a person from groups commonly wearing business attire, such as salespeople or attorneys.[5]

Metonymies are common in everyday speech and encapsulate a range of other ideas, such as synecdoche and metalepsis. Metonymies are similar to metaphors but where metaphors rely on analogous characteristics to form a comparison, a metonymy is caused by general association of the two objects of comparison.

  1. ^ "metonymy". Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  2. ^ "metonym". The Chambers Dictionary (9th ed.). Chambers. 2003. ISBN 0-550-10105-5.
  3. ^ "Definition of metonymy | Dictionary.com". www.dictionary.com. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Metonymy Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  5. ^ On Synecdoche and Metonymy
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