What term is used for a special kind of metonymy where a part is used to represent the whole?

The term that refers to a special kind of metonymy where a part is used to represent the whole is synecdoche. This rhetorical device allows for a part of something to stand in for its entirety, often used to create a more vivid or relatable image for the reader or listener. For example, saying "all hands on deck" uses "hands" to represent the sailors or crew members, emphasizing the collective effort rather than just individual bodies.

This choice highlights the unique relationship between the part and the whole, which is central to understanding terminology in literary devices and their function in enhancing language. The other terms, such as metaphor, allegory, and symbolism, while related in their usage of language to convey deeper meanings, do not specifically refer to the relationship where a part signifies the whole like synecdoche does.