Synecdoche – Meaning, Definition, Uses & Examples

Synecdoche: English language like other languages is interesting in its unique manner. Learning its grammar & vocabulary along with finding out ways to make the language rich & polished is a very fulfilling process. Figures of speech are one of the most interesting topics. One of the figures of speech that we often use in our daily lives is Synecdoche. Let’s have a look at what Synecdoches are & how we can use them in sentences, with the help of some examples. 

Synecdoche is one of the figures of speech that we use in our daily lives. Synecdoche is a rhetorical device in which a term refers to a part of something to substitute for the whole thing. Example – English for the England cricket team.

Synecdoche

What is a Synecdoche?

• Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something is used to refer to its whole. 
• A less common form of synecdoche is when a whole is used to refer to a part. For example- the word “mortals” means humans—”mortals” technically includes all animals & plants (anything that dies), so when we use “mortals” to mean humans is a synecdoche.
• Synecdoche has been used by generations of writers in poetry & prose. It is used in many idioms, colloquial expressions & slang terms. One of the common forms of synecdoche is when a body part is used  (hand, heart, head, eyes, etc.) to refer to an entire person.

Synecdoche Meaning

Synecdoche is a way of speaking where you use a part of something to represent the whole thing or use the whole to represent a part. It’s like saying “all hands on deck” when you really mean “everyone help out.”

What is the Purpose of Synecdoche?

As a literary device, synecdoche is a means of expression of a “whole” entity or idea in a rhetorical way by using a part of it. This makes it more effective for readers as it allows them to think of an object or idea in a different way, in terms of the representation of its parts. 

Enhance Expression

Writers use synecdoche to enhance description & create imagery for the reader. The presence of a part is related to the whole. In a synecdoche, whole means something big & refers to many things. Example- The battalion excelled in the regiment means the battalion is a part & the regiment is a whole. 

Creates Connections

When writers use synecdoche, it creates connections for the reader. For a synecdoche to function both as a microcosm and macrocosm, the reader must understand the relation of the smaller part to the larger whole. This means that a writer cannot choose any part of something & make a synecdoche. Meaning must be there for the part which is related to the whole in order for the reader to understand.

The distinction between basic categories of Synecdoche

a. Microcosm: synecdoche means a smaller part of something refers to a larger whole. For example– “blue hair” is used to call an older woman. Here we see how a smaller part of a woman’s body represents her as a whole in terms of age.

b. Macrocosm synecdoche – A larger entity refers to a smaller part within it. Example-“Ivy League” is a group of prestigious colleges in the northeastern United States. Therefore, when someone is called an “Ivy League” student, it means that s/he belongs to one of these universities. 

How Does Synecdoche Differ from Metonymy: Synecdoche vs Metonymy

SYNECDOCHE	METONYMY
Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something is used to refer to its whole.	Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a term (an object or an idea) gets substituted by another term that is closely related to it.
Example: He is planning to hire some more hands. Here, ‘hands’ refers to people/employees.	Example: It would be really good if you could give me a hand. Here, ‘hand’ is meant to help.

Importance of using Synecdoche

• Synecdoche is a rhetorical device in which the speaker/writer uses a part of something in place of the whole thing. Example: When you pump a car full of lead, you are fueling it up.
• By using this sort of comparison, the speaker is letting the audience put in effort to determine what s/he means. The more the audience thinks about what is being said, the more memorable it is & they will be more engaged. 
• Synecdoche creates a more vivid & memorable image in the listener’s mind & by emphasizing certain aspects of the thing that is being described.

Synecdoche Figure of Speech

As a figure of speech, synecdoche makes your words more colorful and compact. It lets you give a quick, vivid picture by mentioning just a part of something or suggesting a larger idea with a single detail. It’s a creative shortcut in language.

Synecdoche in a Sentence

“Check out the new set of wheels,” he said, showing off his car. In this sentence, “wheels” stands for the whole car, using synecdoche to make the phrase more lively and interesting.

Synecdoche Literary Definition

In literature, synecdoche is a device authors use to add depth to their writing. By referring to something by one of its parts or by implying a larger whole from a single element, writers can make their descriptions more powerful and engaging.

Examples of Synecdoche from English Literature

1. Synecdoche in Beloved by Toni Morrison

The character Baby Suggs uses synecdoche in a sermon:

Yonder they do not love your flesh. They despise it. They don’t love your eyes; they’d just as soon pick them out. They no more love the skin on your back.

Here, “your flesh,” “your eyes,” & “the skin on your back,” refer to “you.” Baby Suggs is speaking about the hostility & violence that her community of freed slaves faces from white people. By describing her people as body parts rather than as whole people, Baby Suggs emphasizes how white people dehumanize black people.

2. Synecdoche in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

An angry Macbeth kicks out a servant by saying:  Take thy face hence.

“Thy face” refers to “you.” Macbeth here is simply telling the servant to leave, but by using synecdoche he sounds harsh & insulting, showing how angry he really is.

3. Synecdoche in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Coleridge

Samuel Coleridge In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” uses synecdoche in these lines:

The western wave was all a-flame.
The day was well-nigh done!
Almost upon the Western wave
Rested the broad bright Sun.

“Wave” here means the whole ocean (or at least part of the ocean—larger than a wave). So when the Ancient Mariner says “the western wave,” he means the ocean to the west, that extends to the western horizon.

4. Synecdoche in “I heard a Fly buzz—when I died” by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, in the second stanza of the poem, writes:

The Eyes around—had wrung them dry—
And Breaths were gathering firm
For that last Onset—when the King
Be witnessed—in the Room—

In this context, “eyes” means people. Dickinson by using synecdoche tells us that the people in the room are watching the speaker.  By using synecdoche, Dickinson is able to maintain the rhythm of the poem while communicating, in just a few words, wherein he talks about how the people surrounding the speaker are watching her & have been weeping.

Practice Questions on Synecdoche

1. “The pen is mightier than the sword”, in this which portion is metonymic?
    a. The pen & the sword

    b. Only the pen

    c. Only the sword

    d. Is mightier than

Solution- a. The pen & the sword

2. What is metonymy?
    a. Replacing words with associated words

    b. Removing adjectives from subjects

    c. Metaphorical representation of animals

    d. Use of evocative phrasing

Solution- a. Replacing words with associated words

3. What is synecdoche?

Solution- Synecdoche is a figure of speech where in, a part of something is used to refer to its whole.

4. What are the meanings of the following synecdoche?

Hand in marriage = marriage proposal
All hands on deck = everyone must be available
Press the flesh = greet people
Order! = order in the court

5. How is synecdoche used?

Solution- Synecdoche is used in writing for creating vivid imagery or it can make complex topics concise & memorable.

Synecdoche- FAQs

What is a Synecdoche?

Synecdoche is a figure of speech where in, a part of something is used to refer to its whole.

What are some examples of Synecdoche?

SYNECDOCHE	MEANING
1. Faces in the crowd	specific people in a crowd
2. All hands on deck	everyone must be available
3. England	Great Britain
4. Hit the road	to leave
5. Pearly gates	heaven
6. Twinkle toes	dancer
7. Boots on the ground	soldiers
8. Behind the bars	being in jail
9. Stars & stripes	U.S. flag
10. Wheels	vehicle

What is the difference between “synecdoche” and “metonymy”?

• Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something is used to refer to its whole. Example: He is planning to hire some more hands. Here, ‘hands’ refers to people/employees.
• Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a term (an object or an idea) gets substituted by another term that is closely related to it. Example: It would be really good if you could give me a hand. Here, ‘hand’ is meant to help.

How to use Synecdoche in a sentence?

Synecdoche can be used to emphasize what is important in a sentence. In classical literature, synecdoche is often used as a form of symbolism to refer to a group by using a single noun.