Definition
Metonymy replaces one thing with another closely associated thing. The White House for the U.S. presidency is metonymy because the place stands for the institution.
Example
The crown demanded tribute uses crown to mean royal authority, not the object alone.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Using associations so distant that readers cannot follow the substitution.
- Confusing metonymy with metaphor, which compares unlike things rather than substituting related ones.