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Synecdoche Meaning and Examples in English/Hindi

Synecdoche Meaning

Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a portion of anything is used to represent the entire thing. Synecdoche is the use of a portion of an automobileтАФthe wheelsтАФto refer to the entire car. For example, if your parents purchase you a car and you mention that you just got a new set of wheels.

Synecdoche Definition

The Merriam-Webster and Collins dictionaries both define synecdoche as “a figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole (such as fifty sail for fifty ships), the whole for a part (such as high society for society), the species for the genus (such as a creature for a man), the genus for the species (such as boards for stage), or the name of the material for the thing made (such as boards for stage).

Synecdoche Figure of Speech Examples

A rhetorical technique known as synecdoche substitutes a term for a portion of something for the entire thing. The term “synecdoche” is defined as “a word or phrase in which a part of something is used to represent a whole, or a whole is used to represent a part of something,” in the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, and “a figure of speech by which a more comprehensive term is used for a less comprehensive or vice versa, as whole for part or part for whole,” in the Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms.

Synecdoche Pronunciation

To correctly pronounce synecdoche, say “sih-NECK-duh-key.” A synecdoche is a part that represents the whole.

Synecdoche Examples in Literature

  • тАЬI know the┬аvoices┬аdying with a dying fall

Beneath the music from a farther roomтАЭ (тАШThe Love Song of J. Alfred PrufrockтАЩ by T. S. Eliot)

Here, the word тАШvoicesтАЩ refers to people. Voice is just one of the elements that is a characteristic of being a human.

  • тАЬThere will be time, there will be time

To prepare a face to meet the┬аfaces┬аthat you meet;

There will be time to murder and create,

And time for all the works and days of┬аhands

That lift and drop a question on your plate;тАЭ (тАШThe Love Song of J. Alfred PrufrockтАЩ by T. S. Eliot)

In this example, the words тАШfacesтАЩ and тАШhandsтАЩ are just parts of the body but used here to refer to people.

  • тАЬтАШTis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,

A serpent stung me; so the whole┬аear┬аof Denmark

Is by a forged process of my death

Rankly abused. тАЭ (тАШHamletтАЩ by William Shakespeare)

In the above example, тАШearтАЩ is used to refer to all the people of Denmark.

  • тАЬThey survive, stamped upon these lifeless things, by the┬аhand┬аwhich made them.тАЭ (тАШOzymandiasтАЩ by Percy Bysshe Shelley)

Here, in this sentence, the word тАШhandтАЩ is just a part of the sculptor who made those statues and therefore, is an example of synecdoche.

  • тАЬTheir eyes met as she sat in front of him paler than anyone in the huge ocean of┬аfaces┬аbefore them.тАЭ (тАШThe lady or The TigerтАЩ by Frank R Stockton)

тАШFacesтАЩ here is a term used to refer to a lot of people and is an example of synecdoche. This is because тАШfacesтАЩ just seem to be a part of the body but used here to refer to the whole idea.

Synecdoche vs Metonymy

Due of the similarities in their roles, synecdoche and metonymy are likely to cause you confusion. See the following table to see how metonymy and synecdoche differ from one another.

Synecdoche Metonymy
A figure of speech in which a part of something is used to refer to the whole thing. A figure of speech in which a term (an object or an idea) is substituted by another term that is closely related to it.
For example:

We are planning to hire some more┬аhands.

Here, the word тАШhandsтАЩ refers to people/employees(in this context).

For example:

It would be easier if you could give me a hand.

Here, the word тАШhandтАЩ is substituted to mean help.

Synecdoche Meaning in Hindi

рд╕рд┐рдиреЗрдХрдбреЛрдЪреЗ рдХрд╛ рдЕрд░реНрде

рд╕рд┐рдиреЗрдХрдбреЛрдЪреЗ рднрд╛рд╖рдг рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдЕрд▓рдВрдХрд╛рд░ рд╣реИ рдЬрд╣рд╛рдВ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рднреА рдЪреАрдЬрд╝ рдХреЗ рдПрдХ рд╣рд┐рд╕реНрд╕реЗ рдХрд╛ рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧ рдкреВрд░реА рдЪреАрдЬрд╝ рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдирд┐рдзрд┐рддреНрд╡ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИред рд╕рд┐рдиреНрдХрдбреЛрдЪреЗ рдкреВрд░реА рдХрд╛рд░ рдХреЛ рд╕рдВрджрд░реНрднрд┐рдд рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдСрдЯреЛрдореЛрдмрд╛рдЗрд▓ рдХреЗ рдПрдХ рд╣рд┐рд╕реНрд╕реЗ-рдкрд╣рд┐рдпреЛрдВ-рдХрд╛ рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧ рд╣реИред рдЙрджрд╛рд╣рд░рдг рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП, рдпрджрд┐ рдЖрдкрдХреЗ рдорд╛рддрд╛-рдкрд┐рддрд╛ рдЖрдкрдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдПрдХ рдХрд╛рд░ рдЦрд░реАрджрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рдФрд░ рдЖрдк рдмрддрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рдХрд┐ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рд╣рд╛рд▓ рд╣реА рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╣рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдирдпрд╛ рд╕реЗрдЯ рдорд┐рд▓рд╛ рд╣реИред

рд╕рд┐рдиреЗрдХрдбреЛрдЪреЗ рдкрд░рд┐рднрд╛рд╖рд╛

рдорд░рд┐рдпрдо-рд╡реЗрдмрд╕реНрдЯрд░ рдФрд░ рдХреЛрд▓рд┐рдиреНрд╕ рд╢рдмреНрджрдХреЛрд╢ рджреЛрдиреЛрдВ рд╕рд┐рдиреЗрдХрдбреЛрдЪреЗ рдХреЛ “рднрд╛рд╖рдг рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рд░реВрдк” рдХреЗ рд░реВрдк рдореЗрдВ рдкрд░рд┐рднрд╛рд╖рд┐рдд рдХрд░рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рдЬрд┐рд╕рдХреЗ рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░рд╛ рдПрдХ рднрд╛рдЧ рдХреЛ рд╕рдВрдкреВрд░реНрдг рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд░рдЦрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ (рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рдХрд┐ рдкрдЪрд╛рд╕ рдЬрд╣рд╛рдЬреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдкрдЪрд╛рд╕ рдкрд╛рд▓), рдПрдХ рднрд╛рдЧ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд╕рдВрдкреВрд░реНрдг (рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рдХрд┐ рд╕рдорд╛рдЬ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЙрдЪреНрдЪ рд╕рдорд╛рдЬ), рдЬрд╛рддрд┐ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдкреНрд░рдЬрд╛рддрд┐ (рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рдордиреБрд╖реНрдп рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдкреНрд░рд╛рдгреА), рдкреНрд░рдЬрд╛рддрд┐ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЬрд╛рддрд┐ (рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рдордВрдЪ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдмреЛрд░реНрдб), рдпрд╛ рдмрдирд╛рдИ рдЧрдИ рдЪреАрдЬрд╝ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд╕рд╛рдордЧреНрд░реА рдХрд╛ рдирд╛рдо (рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рдордВрдЪ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдмреЛрд░реНрдб)ред

рдПрдХ рдЕрд▓рдВрдХрд╛рд░рд┐рдХ рддрдХрдиреАрдХ рдЬрд┐рд╕реЗ рд╕рд┐рдиреЗрдХрдбреЛрдЪреЗ рдХреЗ рдирд╛рдо рд╕реЗ рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдЪреАрдЬрд╝ рдХреЗ рдПрдХ рд╣рд┐рд╕реНрд╕реЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдПрдХ рд╢рдмреНрдж рдХреЛ рдкреВрд░реА рдЪреАрдЬрд╝ рдХреЗ рд╕реНрдерд╛рди рдкрд░ рдкреНрд░рддрд┐рд╕реНрдерд╛рдкрд┐рдд рдХрд░ рджреЗрддреА рд╣реИред рдСрдХреНрд╕рдлрд╝реЛрд░реНрдб рд▓рд░реНрдирд░реНрд╕ рдбрд┐рдХреНрд╢рдирд░реА рдореЗрдВ рд╢рдмреНрдж “рд╕рд┐рдиреЗрдХрдбреЛрдЪреЗ” рдХреЛ “рдПрдХ рд╢рдмреНрдж рдпрд╛ рд╡рд╛рдХреНрдпрд╛рдВрд╢ рдХреЗ рд░реВрдк рдореЗрдВ рдкрд░рд┐рднрд╛рд╖рд┐рдд рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рд╣реИ рдЬрд┐рд╕рдореЗрдВ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдЪреАрдЬрд╝ рдХреЗ рдПрдХ рд╣рд┐рд╕реНрд╕реЗ рдХрд╛ рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧ рд╕рдВрдкреВрд░реНрдг рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдирд┐рдзрд┐рддреНрд╡ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдпрд╛ рд╕рдВрдкреВрд░реНрдг рдХрд╛ рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдЪреАрдЬрд╝ рдХреЗ рдПрдХ рд╣рд┐рд╕реНрд╕реЗ рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдирд┐рдзрд┐рддреНрд╡ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ,” рдФрд░ “рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдЖрдВрдХрдбрд╝рд╛” рдХреЗ рд░реВрдк рдореЗрдВ рдкрд░рд┐рднрд╛рд╖рд┐рдд рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рд╣реИред рднрд╛рд╖рдг рдЬрд┐рд╕рдХреЗ рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░рд╛ рдХрдо рд╡реНрдпрд╛рдкрдХ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЕрдзрд┐рдХ рд╡реНрдпрд╛рдкрдХ рд╢рдмреНрдж рдХрд╛ рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдпрд╛ рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рд╡рд┐рдкрд░реАрдд, рднрд╛рдЧ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд╕рдВрдкреВрд░реНрдг рдпрд╛ рд╕рдВрдкреВрд░реНрдг рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рднрд╛рдЧ рдХрд╛ рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ,” рдСрдХреНрд╕рдлреЛрд░реНрдб рдбрд┐рдХреНрд╢рдирд░реА рдСрдл рд▓рд┐рдЯрд░реЗрд░реА рдЯрд░реНрдореНрд╕ рдореЗрдВред

рд╕рд┐рдиреЗрдХрдбреЛрдЪреЗ рдХрд╛ рд╕рд╣реА рдЙрдЪреНрдЪрд╛рд░рдг рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП, “sih-NECK-duh-key” рдХрд╣реЗрдВред рд╕рд┐рдиреЗрдХрдбреЛрдЪреЗ рдПрдХ рдРрд╕рд╛ рднрд╛рдЧ рд╣реИ рдЬреЛ рд╕рдВрдкреВрд░реНрдг рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдирд┐рдзрд┐рддреНрд╡ рдХрд░рддрд╛ рд╣реИред

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FAQs

What is the opposite of synecdoche?

Synecdoche occurs when a word for one portion of anything is used to describe the entire thing, or, less frequently, when a word for the whole is used to describe a word for one component of something. When a word linked with something is used to describe the thing itself, this is referred to as "metonymy."

What is a synecdoche in literature?

Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of the total is represented, as in the statement "hired hands" for labourers, or, less frequently, where the whole of the whole is represented, as in the usage of the word "society" to refer to high society.

What is the synonym of synecdoche?

Adumbration, allegory, alliteration, allusion, analogue, analogy, anaphora, anticlimax, antistrophe, antithesis, aposiopesis, apostrophe, asyndeton, bathos, comparison, conceit, device, echoism, ellipsis, euphemism.

What are the two types of synecdoche?

Macrocosm: This is when a larger entity is used to refer to a small part within it.┬а

Microcosm: This use of synecdoche occurs when a small part of something stands in to refer to the larger whole.

What is a simple definition of synecdoche?

Synecdoche is a literary method when a part of anything is substituted for the entire (such as "worker" for "hired hand") or, less frequently, where a whole represents a component (as when society denotes "high society").