First Known Use: 1547
Dictionary
metonymy
noun me·ton·y·my \mə-ˈtä-nə-mē\
plural me·ton·y·mies
Definition of METONYMY
: a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated (as “crown” in “lands belonging to the crown”)
— met·o·nym·ic \ˌme-tə-ˈni-mik\ or met·o·nym·i·cal \-mi-kəl\ adjective
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Origin of METONYMY
Latin metonymia, from Greek metōnymia, from meta- + -ōnymon -onym
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