Metonymy vs. Synecdoche

Metonymy

Metonymy is a figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated. 

For exmaple, Hollywood is usually used to refer to the United States Cinematic Industry. However, Hollywood is actually a section of Los Angeles, California. Because many films are produced in Hollywood, we associate Hollywood with the Movie Industry.

More Examples:

Word	Actual Meaning	Metonymic Usage
Hollywood	A section of Los Angeles, CA.	The American Film Industry
Broadway	The avenue running the length of Manhattan Island in New York City	The live theater in New York
Wall Street	A street in lower Manhattan, NY.	The American Financial and Banking Industry
The White House	The official President's residence in Washington, D.C.	The U.S President, his staff, representatives, and advisers.
The Pentagon	A large government office building in Arlington, Virginia	The U.S. Dept. of Defense
Cloth	a pliable material made usually by weaving, felting, or knitting natural or synthetic fibers and filaments	Priesthood/ Church
Newspaper	A printed publication consisting of folded unstapled sheets and containing news, feature articles, advertisements, and correspondence.	Journalism/ Reporting Industry

Synecdoche

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa. A synecdoche may also refer to an object by the material it is made from or refer to the contents in a container by the name of the container.

For example, in the phrase “All hands on deck,” handsis used to represent a person's whole being or body.

More Examples:

• “A head of cattle” (Head if referring to a part of the whole.)

• “All eyes on you” (Eyes are a part of the entire body)

• “Lend me your ear” (Ears are a part of the entire body and is referencing attention).

• “Sails” (Sails is often used to refer to a whole ship)

• “Wheels” (Wheels is used to refer to a vehicle. Ex. “Check out my brand new set of wheels.”)

• “Plastic” (A term used to refer to credit cards as they are made out of plastic)

• “Rubber” (A term used to refer to condoms because they were originally made out of rubber.)

Difference Between the Two?

Metonymy refers to an ideaclosely associated with a word.

• “Hollywood” is used to describe the American movie industry because that's where most films are produced in the U.S.

Synecdoche refers to a physical portionof a person or object or the materialthat the object is made out of.

• With “All hands on deck,” hands are physically part of the person. It's not an idea or abstract thought. They are physically connected. The same with the phrase “A head of cattle.”
• With “Wheels,” “Rubber,” and “Plastic,” each of these phrases are materials that make up a larger object. Wheels are physically a part of automobiles. Condoms used to be made out of rubber. Credit cards are made out of plastic.

Need Help?

When trying to figure out if a phrase or word is a Metonymy or Synecdoche, ask yourself this:

• Is the word/object/phrase physically attached to a larger object/person? (or vice versa)

• Is the word/object/phrase part of the make up of something larger?

If you answer “no” to these two questions, it is probably not a synecdoche but most likely a metonymy.

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