Welcome to our new article on literary devices! In this post, we’ll explore synecdoche and metonymy—two figures of speech that share similarities but also have distinct characteristics. If you’re not familiar with the terms metonymy and synecdoche, no worries! Keep reading, and you might discover that you already use them more often than you think.

By the end of the article, challenge yourself to identify examples of synecdoche and metonymy in the sentence: With the press covering every detail, the new wheels are becoming the talk of the town.

Synecdoche /sɪˈnekdəki/ is a literary device in which a part of something is used to represent the whole, or (less commonly) the whole is used to represent a part. It is a form of figurative language that adds depth and meaning to writing or speech by creating connections between ideas. For example:

1. She was born into society, where only the most influential families were invited to social gatherings. (Here, the word society is an example of synecdoche because it uses the whole (“society”) to represent a specific part of it (high society or the elite social class).
2. All hands on deck! (Here, hands (a part of the sailors’ bodies) represents the whole sailors.

More examples of synecdoche:

1. You’ve got a nice set of wheels! (= car)
2. Check out my new threads. (= clothes (US slang)
3. I need a roof over my head.
4. You are a great voice!
5. The sails disappeared over the horizon.
6. We need more boots on the ground.
7. The hired hands started working early.
8. She’s a great brain.
9. She’s got a new pair of eyes on the project.
10. England lost by six wickets.

Note that only the last example, England lost by six wickets, shows a synecdoche where the whole (England) represents a part (the English national team).

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Metonymy /məˈtɑːnəmi/ is a figure of speech in which one thing is substituted for another that is closely related or associated with it.❗️ Unlike synecdoche, which involves a part representing the whole (or vice versa), metonymy relies on a broader, often symbolic connection. For example:

1. The White House issued a statement. (Here, The White House represents the U.S. President or the administration. It’s not referring to the actual building but to the people within it who make decisions.)
2. Hollywood is obsessed with remakes. (In this case, Hollywood is used to represent those who work in the film industry.)

More examples of metonymy:

1. The press is covering the story. (Journalists, not the physical printing press.)
2. He’s reading Shakespeare. (His works, not the author himself.)
3. The pen is mightier than the sword.
4. The crown will find an heir.
5. The law came to arrest him.
6. The city is planning a new public park.
7. The Pentagon issued a statement about national security.
8. Wall Street reacted positively to the news.
9. The Vatican issued a statement on climate change.
10. The kitchen is busy with preparations.

We hope this post has deepened your appreciation of literary devices and figurative language. Be sure to subscribe to this blog not to miss more content like this!