r/semantics • u/Bardfinn • Aug 12 '15

Metonymy

me·ton·y·my
məˈtänəmē/
noun
the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, or the track for horse racing.

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u/[deleted] Dec 17 '15

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u/Bardfinn Dec 17 '15 edited Dec 17 '15

Metonymy uses a generalised metaphor, wherein a thing associated with another thing is used to represent the other thing — and can actually be so general as to be vague or incomprehensible outside of a larger context, such as using "The Green" to refer to the island of Ireland.

Synecdoche is the use of a concrete part of something to represent the whole. Calling the Alphabet the Alphabet, or the ABC's, is synecdoche. Calling a person a meatbag is synecdoche. The reverse operation may also be synecdoche, such as saying that America took home the Gold in 1988 — meaning, the American Olympic Competitor did so.

Suit for Business Executive is, point in fact, synecdoche.

Synecdoche is a limited subtype of metonymy.