antinomasia

9.9

To call a person by a descriptive title instead of their real name

noun
/ˌæntɪˈnoʊməziə/

Literature

: antinomasia

Calling a famous leader 'the Iron Lady' is an example of antinomasia.

Examples

Referring to Albert Einstein as 'the father of modern physics' is an example of antinomasia.
Using antinomasia, people often refer to Shakespeare as 'the Bard'.
In classical literature, antinomasia is frequently used to stress a person's qualities.
Shakespeare often used antinomasia to enhance his characters.
The term antinomasia refers to a specific rhetorical technique.
In poetry, authors frequently employ antinomasia to highlight notable traits of historical figures.
Describing a notorious thief as 'the Fox' showcases the use of antinomasia in storytelling.

Synonyms

antonomasia

vsantinomasia

Literature

1 9.9

Using a descriptive name for a person, like 'the Bard' for Shakespeare

excludes using a name to stand for a type

Surface Forms

antinomasia singular

antinomasias plural

Etymology

Antinomasia comes from the Greek parts anti- meaning 'instead of' and onoma meaning 'name', so it's a way of using a description 'instead of' a person's real name, for example calling Shakespeare 'the Bard'.