metonym
Attribute becomes name
A metonym is a word or phrase used as a substitute for something it's closely associated with.
When someone says "the White House issued a statement," White House stands in for the president or administration.
Similarly, "the crown" can mean the monarchy, "Wall Street" the financial industry, and "the pen is mightier than the sword" uses objects to represent writing and warfare.
Metonyms differ from metaphors in that they rely on association rather than comparison.
Sovereign's ornamental headpiece
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- HollywoodAmerican film industry center
- CapitolLegislative assembly building
- PentagonU.S. military headquarters
Kremlin · Westminster · Brussels · fleet · press · sword · pen · bottle
Part standing for whole
- tropeRecurring narrative device
- rhetoricArt of persuasive language
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
- referentWhat a term designates
signifier · substitution · figurative · designation · expression · term · locution · semiotics
Person lending their name
- demonymName for locals
- patronymName from one's father
- exonymOutsiders' term for place
- hypernymBroader categorical term
synonym · antonym · homonym · paronym · retronym · contronym
Representational mark or sign
- emblemRepresentational sign or device
- stand-inTemporary human placeholder
- substituteReplacement for another
- proxyAuthorized substitute
surrogate · epitome · embodiment · avatar · icon · personification · token · exemplar
crown
Sovereign's ornamental headpiece
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- HollywoodAmerican film industry center
- CapitolLegislative assembly building
Pentagon · Kremlin · Westminster · Brussels · fleet · press · sword · pen · bottle · dish
synecdoche
Part standing for whole
- tropeRecurring narrative device
- rhetoricArt of persuasive language
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
referent · signifier · substitution · figurative · designation · expression · term · locution · semiotics · lexicology
eponym
Person lending their name
hypernym · synonym · antonym · homonym · paronym · retronym · contronym
symbol
Representational mark or sign
- emblemRepresentational sign or device
- stand-inTemporary human placeholder
- substituteReplacement for another
proxy · surrogate · epitome · embodiment · avatar · icon · personification · token · exemplar · archetype
metonymsimile
Comparison via "as"
metaphor · analogy · denotation · plain speech · proper name