Metonymy

Metonymy is a figure of speech where one concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it, rather than its literal name. Instead of a direct, inherent comparison like metaphor, metonymy uses a related substitute to convey meaning concisely, such as “the crown” for the monarchy, “the White House” for the U.S. government, or “suits” for businesspeople. 

Key Characteristics

Association, not similarity: The substituted word is linked to the original word by a conceptual, causal, or material relationship, not by physical or emotional similarity. 
Conciseness: Metonymy can make language more efficient by relying on shared understanding and connotation to avoid lengthy descriptions. 
Cultural Understanding: The effectiveness of metonymy depends on the audience’s shared cultural context and awareness of the associations. 
Examples

Using the place for the institution: “The White House issued a statement” refers to the President or the administration, not the building itself. 

Using the object for the person: Referring to business professionals as “suits”. 

Using a symbol for the abstract concept: “The crown” represents the monarchy and its power. 

Using a concrete item for a broader concept: In the phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword,” “the pen” symbolizes writing, while “the sword” symbolizes warfare. 

How it Differs from Synecdoche

Metonymy is often confused with synecdoche related figure of speech. 

Metonymy: Substitutes a word or concept for something closely associated with it. 

Synecdoche: Uses a part to represent the whole, or the whole to represent a part.