Definitions

1. noun

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is replaced by something associated with its meaning.

“The White House is a metonym for the US government.”

2. noun

A word or phrase that stands in for another, often to convey a particular tone or atmosphere.

“The city of Paris is often used as a metonym for the art of Impressionism.”

3. noun

A word or phrase that represents an abstract idea or concept.

“Time is a metonym for the passage of history.”