metonym
/ˈmɛtəˌnɪm/
noun
- A word or phrase that is used to stand in for something else that it is closely associated with, often as a form of figurative language.
- The word 'Hollywood' is a common metonym for the American film industry.
- When people say 'the crown' to refer to the monarchy, they are using a metonym.
- In the phrase 'the pen is mightier than the sword,' 'pen' is a metonym for writing and 'sword' is a metonym for violence.