Synecdoche: Calling a Whole by Its Parts

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Have you ever wondered why people call their cars, wheels? Or when teachers refer to the alphabet as your ABCs? This is called synecdoche, a figure of speech where a part of something is used to refer to the whole thing.

While you may not know what it is called, chances are you use it frequently in everyday speech. It makes talking more convenient, while still making your meaning clear to the person you’re conversing with.

What is Synecdoche?

Synecdoche is a rhetorical trope that is broken into two general parts: microcosm and macrocosm. A microcosm uses part of something to refer to its whole. An example is “asking for one’s hand in marriage”, with hand taking the place of the entire person.

A macrocosm works the opposite way, with the whole being used to refer to a specific part. When someone says “Forbes is interviewing me!”, they don’t mean the entire magazine, but an individual reporter who will do the interview.

Synecdoche is a helpful device for presenting a word or idea in a different way. It allows for a more artistic form of expression without overusing words.

Examples of Synecdoche

Synecdoche is such a normal part of everyday speech that we rarely think about using it. Here are just a few examples of this figure of speech, grouped by type:

When a Part Represents a Whole (Microcosm)

  • His blade was sharp — uses “blade” to mean the whole sword.
  • I need a headcount for the event — uses “head” to refer to an entire person.
  • I look forward to breaking bread with you — uses “bread” to represent a meal.
  • We need boots on the ground — uses “boots” to mean soldiers.
  • Pour a glass of bubbly — uses “bubbly” to refer to a glass of champagne.
  • She’s been behind bars for a decade — uses “bars” to mean prison.
  • You need to hit the sheets — uses “sheets” to refer to the whole bed.

When A Material Represents An Object (Microcosm)

  • Are we out of silverware? — “silverware” is now generally used to refer to cutlery, even if they’re not silver.
  • Read the papers — uses “papers” to mean a newspaper.
  • Paper or plastic? — use “paper” and “plastic” to indicate disposable bags.
  • Have you seen his threads? —uses “threads” to mean the entire clothes.
  • They’re packing iron — uses “iron” to refer to mean guns.

When A Specific Class Represents a Whole (Microcosm)

  • He needs a Band-Aid — uses “Band-aid” to refer to the whole class of adhesive bandages.
  • Could you get me some Kleenex? — uses “Kleenex” to refer to all facial tissues.
  • Pack it with some Styrofoam — uses “Styrofoam” to mean every type of polystyrene.
  • Hoover that mess up — uses “Hoover” to refer to vacuuming, even if the vacuum cleaner used is not a Hoover brand.

When a Whole Represents A Part (Macrocosm)

  • Do you want to go to the movies? — uses “movies” to refer to an entire movie theater.
  • The police were at my house last night — uses “police” to refer to individual officers.
  • The guards accosted the thief — uses “guards” to mean specific individuals.
  • We live in a cruel world — uses “world” to mean several aspects that make living in this world unenjoyable.

When A Container Refers to Its Contents (Macrocosm)

  • We didn’t know she had gone back to the bottle — uses “bottle” to represent alcoholic beverages.
  • He drank a cup — uses “cup” to refer to its contents.
  • They have kegs at the party — uses “kegs” to mean a keg of beer.
  • They ate four whole boxes — uses “boxes” to refer to the food they contained.

When a General Class Represents a Specific Member of That Class (Macrocosm)

  • I got interviews by The New York Times — not the entire publication, but only a specific reporter.
  • Humanity has gone to the stars — not all humans, but a select few.
  • The White House made a statement on the issue today — not the entire White House, but the president.
  • Vietnam took the crown — not the entire country, but its official participant.
  • Michigan won the game yesterday — not the entire state, but its official team.

Examples in Literature

Even literature is littered with many examples. Here are just a few of them:

1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

In the books, Hagrid’s pet hound is named Fang. Not only is it its name, but “fang” is also a body part that represents the entire dog.

2. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

“The western wave was all a-flame.

The day was well nigh done!

Almost upon the western wave

Rested the broad bright Sun.”

Here, the word “wave” refers to the entire ocean.

3.  Macbeth by William Shakespeare

“Take thy face hence!”

Here, “thy face” simply means “you.” Macbeth is simply telling a servant to leave, but in a way that makes it sound harsher.

4. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

“He shall think differently,” the musketeer threatened, “When he feels the point of my steel.”

“Steel” refers to the musketeer’s swords and is also the material they are made from.

Synecdoche Vs. Metonymy

Synecdoche and metonymy are often confused together because they both use a word or phrase to mean something else. But while synecdoche uses a part to represent a whole, metonymy uses an associated idea to represent another idea.

Look at these two examples:

  • Nice ride, man!
  • Nice wheels, man!

Both sentences convey the same meaning about having a cool car. However, the first sentence uses the word “ride” which isn’t any part of a car. But the act of riding is closely related to cars.

The second example uses the word “wheels” to mean a car. Wheels are a part of a car, which, in this sentence, is used to mean the whole thing.

It’s a slight difference, but both figures of speech are used to establish connections. They spice up written and spoken language, giving people a more vivid image of what others mean.

What’s your favorite example of synecdoche? Share it in the comments below!

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