What Is Synecdoche? | Definition & Examples

Synecdoche is a figure of speech that uses a word for a single part of something in place of a word th”at describes the whole (e.g., “threads” to refer to clothing). Synecdoche can also be used in the opposite way, using a word that describes the whole in place of the single part (e.g., “the classroom” to refer to the students and teacher).

What is synecdoche?

Synecdoche (pronounced suh-nek-duh-kee) is a figure of speech or trope that uses a part of something in place of the whole of something (or vice versa, where the whole represents the part). It’s used in numerous types of writing, from literature and poetry to song lyrics and everyday language.

The most common types of synecdoche are:

• Using a part to replace the whole. This is when someone uses a part of an object in place of the entirety of the object. For example, saying “Count every head” uses “head” to represent a person.
• Using the whole to represent a part. This is when we use the whole of something in place of one of its parts. For example, “Germany won the match!” uses “Germany” to refer to the German soccer team.
• Using the container to represent what is contained. This uses the name of the container to refer to the entirety of its contents (e.g., “Do you want a cuppa?” uses the British slang “cuppa” to refer to the entire cup of tea).
• Using the material to represent the object. This uses the material that something is made up of instead of the object itself (e.g., “He drew his steel” uses “steel” to refer to his sword, which is made of steel).

What is the difference between synecdoche and metonymy?

Synecdoche and metonymy (pronounced meh-tah-nuh-mee) are both rhetorical devices that substitute one word or phrase for another word or phrase, but they are different.

Synecdoche uses a word that is a smaller part of the whole thing it’s describing (or vice versa). Metonymy uses an associated word to replace another word.

The main difference is that synecdoche uses a literal part of the thing (or vice versa), while metonymy uses a closely connected or associated word.

For example, many people understand “ride” or “wheels” to refer to a car in the following sentence: “I got a new ride/wheels.” Using “wheels” in this example is synecdoche because it is an actual part of the car, but “ride” is metonymy because it is closely associated with a car.

Synecdoche examples

Synecdoche is a common literary device used in many different types of writing.

Many people use synecdoche in everyday language without even realizing it.

Frequently asked questions about synecdoche

What is the difference between synecdoche and metonymy?

Synecdoche and metonymy are both tropes that replace one word with another. While they are similar, they are distinctly different.

Synecdoche is when you use a part of something to refer to the whole (or vice versa), while metonymy uses a closely related word to replace another word.

For example, referring to a newspaper as “the paper” is synecdoche because the newspaper is made up of paper, while “the news” is metonymy because it is a word closely associated with “newspaper.”

Scribbr’s free Paraphrasing Tool can help you come up with synonyms to help you with using synecdoche in your writing.

What is the difference between synecdoche and metaphor?

Synecdoche and metaphor are both figures of speech, but they are different.

Synecdoche uses a part of something to represent the whole (or vice versa) (e.g., “wheels” to refer to a car). A metaphor compares two seemingly unrelated things by saying one is the other (e.g., “life is a highway”).

Scribbr’s free Paraphrasing Tool can help you come up with synonyms to help you use synecdoche in your writing.