What is the Difference Between Metonymy and Synecdoche?

Metonymy and synecdoche are both figures of speech where one thing is used to represent another. They are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences between the two:

• Synecdoche: This figure of speech is used when a part of something is used to refer to the whole thing, or less commonly, the word for a whole is used to refer to a part. For example, the term "hands" can be used to mean "workers" (as in "all hands on deck") or the noun "sails" to mean "ships".
• Metonymy: In this figure of speech, a word associated with something is used to refer to the thing itself. For example, the word "crown" can be used to refer to the duty, power, and responsibility of a king or queen, or the phrase "White House" can refer to the President or the administration.

In summary, the main difference between metonymy and synecdoche is that synecdoche refers to a part of something being used to represent the whole or vice versa, while metonymy refers to something being represented by something closely related to it, but not necessarily a part of the whole.

Comparative Table: Metonymy vs Synecdoche

Metonymy and synecdoche are both figures of speech that involve substituting one word or phrase for another. Here is a table that highlights the differences between the two:

In summary, metonymy refers to a figure of speech where a word associated with something is used to refer to that thing, while synecdoche refers to a figure of speech where the word for a part of something is used to refer to the whole, or vice versa.