metonym
UK[ˈmet.ə.nɪm]US[ˈmet̬.ə.nɪm]
n
A word or phrase used in metonymy.
n
A thing that is used in metonymy to represent something else.
Morpheme Breakdown
meta
onym
meta
change
onym
name
Etymology
The word 'metonym' is a modern scholarly creation, directly assembled from classical Greek components to describe a specific rhetorical concept. It combines meta-, implying alteration or substitution, with -onym, derived from onoma (name). Literally, it means "a changed name" or "a substitute name." This construction perfectly captures the essence of metonymy, where the name of one closely associated thing is used to refer to another, such as "the Crown" for the monarchy or "Wall Street" for the financial industry, representing a logical shift in designation rather than a metaphorical comparison.
Analysis
Structure: meta (change) + onym (name)
- meta: From Greek, meaning "change, transformation, or beyond." In this word, it indicates a change or substitution.
- onym: From Greek onoma, meaning "name." It functions as the core noun element.
Examples
In the phrase "The White House issued a statement," "The White House" is a metonym for the U.S. president and staff.
"Hollywood" is often used as a metonym for the American film industry.
Understanding common metonyms like "suits" for business executives is key to reading financial news.