Metonymy
Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with that thing or concept. It is closely related to synecdoche, which involves the naming of a part for the whole or a whole for the part. Metonymy is a common poetic device that creates concrete and vivid images in place of generalities, as in the substitution of a specific "grave" for the abstraction "death".
In everyday speech, metonymy is used to add symbolism or deeper meaning, drawing in readers and getting them invested in a story. It is also a standard journalistic and headline practice, such as using "city hall" to mean "municipal government" and the "White House" to mean the "president of the United States".
Metonymy takes many different forms, and it is a figure of speech in some poetry and in much rhetoric. It is a powerful tool for writers and speakers to convey meaning in a more engaging and impactful way.
