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Webster 1913 Edition

Metonymy

Me-ton′y-my

(mē̍-tŏn′ĭ-my̆; 277)
,
Noun.
[L.
metonymia
, Gr.
μετωνυμία
;
μετά
, indicating change +
ὄνυμα
, for
ὄνομα
a name: cf. F.
métonymie
. See
Name
.]
(Rhet.)
A trope in which one word is put for another that suggests it;
as, we say, a man keeps a good
table
instead of good
provisions
; we read
Virgil
, that is, his
poems
; a man has a warm
heart
, that is, warm
affections
; a city dweller has no
wheels
, that is, no automobile.

Webster 1828 Edition

Metonymy

MET'ONYMY

,
Noun.
[Gr. over, beyond, and name.] In rhetoric, a trope in which one word is put for another; a change of names which have some relation to each other; as when we say, 'a man keeps a good table.' instead of good provisions. 'We read Virgil.' that is, his poems or writings. 'They have Moses and the prophets,' that is, their books or writings. A man has a clear head, that is, understanding, intellect; a warm heart, that is affections.

Definition 2025

metonymy

metonymy

English

Noun

metonymy ‎(countable and uncountable, plural metonymies)

  1. The use of a single characteristic or name of an object to identify an entire object or related object.
    • 1891 September 1, William Minto, “Practical talks on writing English”, in Theodor Flood, editor, The Chautauquan, volume 13, OCLC 752442901, page 279:
      ...the principle of metonymy is simply to substitute for the plain name of a thing a name or phrase based on something connected with it.
  2. (countable) A metonym.
Examples
  • The White House released its official report today. — "The White House" for "The presidential administration"
  • The Crown has enacted a new social security policy. — "The Crown" for "The government of the United Kingdom".
  • A crowd of fifty heads — where "head" stands for person.
  • Put it on the plastic — material (plastic) for object (credit card)

Coordinate terms

Hypernyms

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Etymology

From Late Latin metonymia, from Ancient Greek μετονομασία ‎(metonomasía, “change of name”), from μετά ‎(metá, “other”) + ὄνομα ‎(ónoma, “name”).

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