/sɪˈnɛkdəki/; /sɪˈnɛkdɒki/ (SY-nuh-DEK-ee)

Definitions

1. noun

A figure of speech in which a part represents the whole or vice versa, such as using ‘all hands’ for ‘everyone on the crew’.

“The coach used the phrase ‘heart and soul of the team’ to refer to the star player.”

2. noun

A rhetorical or poetic device in which a part represents the whole or vice versa.

“The use of ‘the eyes’ to represent ‘the soul’ is an example of synecdoche in literature.”