What comes into your mind when you hear the word “Hollywood?” Certainly not a neighborhood in Los Angeles. You automatically started thinking about movies or maybe great actors in the United States. Everybody thinks about the film industry whenever the word “Hollywood” pops up. Why is it so? Have you ever heard of the word 'metonymy'? Let’s take a look at its definition because that will answer most of your questions.

The definition of metonymy

Metonymy is a literary device in which an object or concept is referred to by the name of something that is closely related to the object or concept.

This is clear in our first example. Instead of saying the film industry (in the United States), one replaces it with “Hollywood” to mean the same thing. Metonymy originates from the Greek word metŌnymia which means “a change of name.” There are many examples of metonymy. They include:

“The pentagon” ( represents the military of the United States and its leadership)

“A dish” (refers to food, or food on a plate)

“The White House” (represents the administration of the United States)

“The press” (for the media)

“Timbuktu” (for a faraway or mysterious place)

“A bench” or “the bench” (used in the judicial field to refer to judges, or generally the judicial profession)

“Stomach” or “belly” (represents hunger)

“mouth” (represents speech)

“in diapers” (represents infancy)

“hand” (represents someone’s responsibility or involvement. For example, “We could use your hand in the campaign activities.”)

“nose” (represents concern, especially about other people’s affairs or businesses)

“Head” or “brain” (for intelligence)

“Coast” (for locations bordering an ocean or sea)

Examples of the use of metonymy in sentences

My daughter enjoys exotic dishes (dishes for food).

The only thing that scared him during his early twenties was the aisle (aisle for marriage).

The city tycoon boasts a luxurious ride (ride for vehicle).

The Russians thought we had our noses in their political affairs (nose for interest or concern).

Let’s take a look at some famous works of literature with the use of metonymy:

As I afterward learned, the poor scrivener, when told that he must be conducted to the Tombs, offered not the slightest obstacle, but in his pale, unmoving way, silently acquiesced.

(Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville)

In his short story, Herman Melville uses the word Tombs metonymically to represent a detention center where people are convicted for or acquitted of their crimes.

The difference between metonymy and synecdoche

Metonymy and synecdoche are very similar and it takes an understanding of their uses to tell them apart.

Synecdoche refers to the representation of the whole using a part of the whole, while metonymy refers to the use of an object or concept to refer to another object or concept. For instance, the word “wheels” is a synecdoche (it represents the whole car), while the word ride is a metonymy (it represents a car).

The uses of metonymy

Provides the writer with a wide choice of words

The writer avoids repeating phrases in their work with the use of metonymy.

To enhance imagery

The writer can use metonymy to enhance imagery in their work. For instance, saying, “keep your nose out of my business” gives the reader a vivid image of how interested someone is in another person’s business.

Sources

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-metonymy
https://www.thoughtco.com/metonymy-figures-of-speech-1691388
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/metonymy

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-metonymy.html
https://literarydevices.net/metonymy