1. a figure of speech in which something is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it
Usage: rhetoric; literary

Examples

• The phrase ‘the White House announced’ uses metonymy, referring to the president by the building where he works.
• When we say ‘Hollywood is making too many sequels,’ we use metonymy to refer to the film industry.
• The crown represents the monarchy through metonymy.
• Saying ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’ employs metonymy for writing and warfare.
• Wall Street often stands for the financial industry in metonymy.
• The phrase ‘lend me your ears’ is metonymy for asking for attention.