word
Literary
synecdoche
sih-NEK-duh-kee
sɪˈnɛkdəkiListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
synecdoche
Sounds like
Say 'sih-NEK-duh-kee' — four syllables, not three.
Dictionary meaning
A figure of speech where a part represents the whole, or vice versa (e.g. 'all hands on deck').
History and origin
Greek — 'synekdokhe' (simultaneous understanding).
Examples
- 'Boots on the ground' is a military synecdoche — boots representing soldiers.
Common mispronunciations
SIN-ek-doshsih-neh-DO-shee
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