Word
metonym
/ˈmɛtənɪm/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a word used to stand for something else that it is closely related to. For example, you might say 'the crown' when you really mean the king or queen.
n. a word, name, or expression used as a substitute for something else with which it is closely associated. Often involves using a part, an attribute, or a related concept to represent the whole entity.
Examples
“The word 'suit' is a common metonym for a business executive.”
“In political journalism, 'Washington' is frequently used as a metonym for the United States federal government.”
“The poet employs 'the pen' as a metonym for the written word, contrasting its enduring intellectual influence against the physical coercion represented by 'the sword'.”
Examples
simple
“The word 'suit' is a common metonym for a business executive.”
contextual
“In political journalism, 'Washington' is frequently used as a metonym for the United States federal government.”
complex
“The poet employs 'the pen' as a metonym for the written word, contrasting its enduring intellectual influence against the physical coercion represented by 'the sword'.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “metonym” in context.
Verb
01. decode metonym
“Students must decode metonym to grasp the poet's political allusion.”
verb + noun
02. employ metonym
“Journalists often employ metonym to simplify complex institutions.”
verb + noun
03. interpret metonym
“Readers interpret metonym by linking the part to its wider referent.”
verb + noun
04. metonym evokes
“The metonym evokes an entire institution with a single image.”
noun + verb
05. metonym refers
“In this line, the metonym refers not to the object but to its users.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. classic metonym
“The crown is a classic metonym for royal authority in British discourse.”
adj + noun
07. conventional metonym
“Hollywood is a conventional metonym for the American film industry.”
adj + noun
08. familiar metonym
“The white coat is a familiar metonym for doctors and clinical authority.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. example of metonym
“The crown is a textbook example of metonym in political rhetoric.”
noun + prep + noun
10. form of metonym
“The sail is an established form of metonym for ships at sea.”
noun + prep + noun
11. a classic metonym for
“The White House is a classic metonym for the US presidency.”
12. interpret metonym in context
“You can only interpret metonym in context, not in isolation.”
Usage
Commonly used in literary analysis and linguistics to describe figurative language.
Pitfall
using a metonymy
using a metonym
Learners often confuse the figure of speech (metonymy) with the specific word itself (metonym).
Real-World Examples
“In the artist’s 2022 exhibition “End of Subject” at New York’s 52 Walker gallery, everyday objects like barricades became metonyms for the ways in which individuals organize, divide and view one another in social settings.” Etymology
Back-formation from the 16th-century term metonymy. The noun was derived by stripping the suffix to isolate the individual instance of the figure of speech.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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