Metonymy
Pronounced meh-TON-uh-mee.
Metonymy: Referring to something by the name of a thing closely associated with it.
Metonymy lets a writer swap an institution or idea for its familiar emblem, keeping sentences concrete: crowns act, pens fight, Washington decides.
Metonymy examples
"The pen is mightier than the sword."
— Richelieu, Edward Bulwer-Lytton
"The White House announced the decision this morning."
— common usage
"The crown must answer to the people."
— common usage
"The whole newsroom answered to Fleet Street's oldest desk."
— original example
Spot the Metonymy
Score: 0/0Referring to something by the name of a thing closely associated with it.
"The pen is mightier than the sword."
Which work is this from?
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Metonymy: common questions
What is metonymy in literature?
Referring to something by the name of a thing closely associated with it. Metonymy lets a writer swap an institution or idea for its familiar emblem, keeping sentences concrete: crowns act, pens fight, Washington decides.
What is an example of metonymy?
A classic example is "The pen is mightier than the sword." (Richelieu, Edward Bulwer-Lytton).
What is the difference between metonymy and synecdoche?
Synecdoche substitutes a part for the whole ('all hands on deck' - hands for sailors). Metonymy substitutes an associated thing ('the pen is mightier than the sword' - pen for writing). In synecdoche the stand-in is literally a piece of the thing; in metonymy it is merely linked to it.
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