Metonymy
A figure of speech that names something by referring to a closely associated thing rather than the thing itself.
Metonymy swaps in a related word or idea for the one actually meant, trusting the reader to follow the connection. Writers use it to compress meaning and to charge plain nouns with the weight of what surrounds them. Saying “the crown” for the monarchy or “Wall Street” for finance are everyday examples.
Example
When Antony cries “lend me your ears,” he uses ears to stand for the crowd’s attention, asking not for body parts but for a hearing.
Julius Caesar · William Shakespeare
Related terms
SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part stands for the whole, or the whole stands for a part.MetaphorA comparison that calls one thing another to suggest a shared quality, without using like or as.SymbolismThe use of an object, image, or action to stand for a larger idea beyond its literal meaning.