Metonymy substitutes a word with something closely associated with it. This association can be based on:
* Location: "The White House announced a new policy" (White House stands for the government).
* Cause and effect: "He earned his bread" (bread stands for livelihood).
* Symbol: "The crown is worried about unrest" (crown stands for the monarchy).
Synecdoche substitutes a part for the whole or the whole for a part. This means:
* Part for whole: "Wheels" to refer to a car.
* Whole for part: "The police" to refer to a single officer.
Here's a simple way to remember the difference:
* Metonymy: Think of "metaphor" - it's a wider concept, encompassing a broader range of associations.
* Synecdoche: Think of "synergy" - it focuses on a closer, more direct connection between the two words.
Examples:
* Metonymy: "Wall Street is crashing" (Wall Street represents the stock market).
* Synecdoche: "Give me a hand" (hand represents help).
In summary: While both metonymy and synecdoche involve substituting words, metonymy relies on broader associations, while synecdoche focuses on a part-whole relationship.