noun

synecdoche

/sɪˈnɛkdəki/ · say it: sih·NEK·duh·kee

using a part to represent the whole, or vice versa

In more detail

1. (noun) a figure of speech in which a part of something represents the whole, or the whole represents a part; for example, 'all hands on deck' uses 'hands' to mean 'people'

2. (noun) a figure of speech in which the name of one thing is used to represent something closely associated with it; for example, 'the crown' used to mean 'the king'

Examples

"Lend me a hand" is a synecdoche where 'hand' represents a person's help.
The phrase "Hollywood is obsessed with money" is a synecdoche using the film industry's center to mean the entire industry.

How to use synecdoche

Synecdoche is a technical term from rhetoric and literary analysis, commonly taught in English language and literature courses. It is sometimes confused with metonymy, which is closely related but distinct: metonymy substitutes the name of one thing for something associated with it (e.g., 'the White House announced'), while synecdoche specifically involves a part-whole relationship or represents something by the name of an associated container or category. The term appears frequently in academic and literary discussion.

Common phrases

example of synecdoche
synecdoche for
synecdoche in which
rhetorical synecdoche
classic synecdoche

Synonyms

metonymy · figure of speech · trope · rhetorical device

Word family

synecdochic · synecdochical

A common mistake

Learners often conflate synecdoche with metonymy or use the term too broadly; technically, not all substitutions of associated terms qualify as synecdoche, which requires a part-whole or whole-part relationship.

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