A figure of speech in which something is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it, rather than by its own name. For example, using 'the crown' to refer to royalty or monarchy.
From Greek metonymia, combining meta (change) + onyma (name), literally meaning 'change of name.' This rhetorical device involves substituting the name of one thing for something else closely related to it, creating a kind of linguistic shorthand.
Think META (change) + NAME = changing the name! Instead of saying 'the king,' you say 'the crown' - you've changed the name but kept the meaning. It's like nickname for concepts: 'Hollywood' for the film industry, 'the White House' for the President. The key is close association, not similarity (that's metaphor).
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