synecdoche

[ si-nek-duh-kee ]

noun

, Rhetoric.

1. a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in ten sail for ten ships or a Croesus for a rich man.

synecdoche

/ sɪnˈɛkdəkɪ; ˌsɪnɛkˈdɒkɪk /

noun

1. a figure of speech in which a part is substituted for a whole or a whole for a part, as in 50 head of cattle for 50 cows, or the army for a soldier

Derived Forms

• synecdochic, adjective
• ˌsynecˈdochically, adverb

Other Words From

• syn·ec·doch·ic [sin-ik-, dok, -ik], synec·dochi·cal adjective
• synec·dochi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of synecdoche¹

1350–1400; < Medieval Latin < Greek synekdochḗ, equivalent to syn- syn- + ekdochḗ act of receiving from another, equivalent to ek- ec- + -dochē, noun derivative of déchesthai to receive

Word History and Origins

Origin of synecdoche¹

C14: via Latin from Greek sunekdokhē, from syn- + ekdokhē interpretation, from dekhesthai to accept

Example Sentences

They became a synecdoche for the woman herself: conservative, intimidating, feminine.

From The Daily Beast

Reddit is a synecdoche for the Internet: a set of tools for sharing and organizing content.

From The Daily Beast

Sex appeal,” Levy writes, “has become a synecdoche of all appeal.

From The Daily Beast

After Synecdoche, it will be impossible not to take notice of her talent.

From The Daily Beast

Synecdoche puts a part for the whole, or a whole for the part; as, "The harbor was crowded with masts."

From Project Gutenberg

Blind mouths: 'mouths' is used, by synecdoche, for gluttons, as the five preceding verses show.

From Project Gutenberg

Synecdoche is a species of metonymy, and has the same effect of giving vividness.

From Project Gutenberg

When this relation is that of a part to the whole or of the whole to a part, the figure is synecdoche.

From Project Gutenberg

The synecdoche, in which a part is put for the whole, as the sword for war, is in its nature essentially a metonymy.

From Project Gutenberg