Totum pro parte

Totum pro parte is Latin for "the whole for a part"; it refers to a kind of synecdoche. When used in a context of language it means that something is named after something of which it is only a part (or only a limited characteristic, in itself not necessarily representative for the whole). A pars pro toto (in which a part is used to describe the whole) is the opposite of a totum pro parte.^[1]

In geography

Some placenames of large areas are commonly used to refer synonymously to a smaller part of the larger area than is strictly deemed correct. Examples of this include:

• "America" for the United States (see use of the word American)
• "Micronesia" for the Federated States of Micronesia
• "Korea" for South Korea
• During the Cold War, "Germany" was often used for West Germany.
• "Macedonia" for the Republic of Macedonia (Controversial - see Macedonia naming dispute)
• "Ulster" for Northern Ireland
• "China" for the People's Republic of China since the 1970s, and prior to that, the Republic of China.
• "The Congo" for the Republic of the Congo.
• "Yemen" for North Yemen

Other examples

The verb "to drink" is often used in this manner. Depending on context it can stand for the generic, standard definition "to consume a fluid" (e.g. "I'm thirsty, is there anything to drink?") or for the narrow, limited definition "to imbibe alcoholic beverages" (e.g. "He goes out to drink too often").

An athletic team is often called by the name of the whole of which it is a part:

• "Go Navy: beat Army" (a cheer for the team representing the United States Naval Academy in a contest against the team representing the United States Military Academy)
• "Houston will be in New York this weekend".

See also

• Metonymy
• Pars pro toto

References