What is the definition of synechdoche?

Beginners

A synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something is used to represent the whole thing, or vice versa. For example, if someone says, "All hands on deck," they mean that they want everyone's help, not just their hands.

Intermediate

A synecdoche is a literary device in which a part of something is used to refer to the whole thing or more commonly, the whole thing is used to refer to just a part of it. For example, using the word "wheels" to refer to a car or "sails" to refer to a ship. The opposite of synecdoche is metonymy, which is when a related word or phrase is substituted for another word.

Advanced

Synechdoche is a literary device used to represent a part of something as a way to refer to the whole or vice versa. This form of figurative language involves the use of a specific object or part to describe a larger concept or group, or, conversely, using a larger group to describe a smaller part. An example of synechdoche is the phrase "all hands on deck," which references the entire crew of a ship and not just their hands.