holonymy

H4O1L1O1N1Y4M3Y4

noun

A semantic relation that exists between a term denoting a whole (the holonym) and a term denoting a part that pertains to the whole (the meronym).

“The relation between the terms ‘foot’ and ‘heel’ is that of holonymy, since one of the parts of a foot is a heel.”

Similar
whole to part relation
Opposite
meronymy
OriginAncient Greek ὅλος →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounholonymy (uncountable)
  1. uncountablehuman sciencesA semantic relation that exists between a term denoting a whole (the holonym) and a term denoting a part that pertains to the whole (the meronym).

    The relation between the terms ‘foot’ and ‘heel’ is that of holonymy, since one of the parts of a foot is a heel.

    Antonyms: meronymy

  2. uncountablehuman sciencesThe quality or nature of being the whole in a holonymous relation.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA semantic relation that exists between a term denoting a whole (the holonym) and a term denoting a part that pertains to the whole (the meronym).

Opposite
meronymy

More synonyms by meaning

nounthe semantic relation that holds between a whole and its parts

Similar
whole to part relation
Broader
semantic relation

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekὅλος“whole”
  2. Englishholonymy

From holo- + -onymy (compare Ancient Greek ὅλος (hólos, “whole”), ὄνομα (ónoma, “name”)).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 整體關係 /整体关系
  • 整體關係 /整体关系 (zhěngtǐguānxì)system of holonyms
French holonymie
  • holonymiesystem of holonyms
Greek ολωνυμία
  • ολωνυμία (olonymía)system of holonyms
Hungarian holonímia
  • holonímiasystem of holonyms
Polish holonimia
  • holonimiasystem of holonyms
Russian холонимия
  • холонимия (xolonimija)system of holonyms

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with holonymy

synonymyallonymyanonymyanthroponymyantonymyautonymycryptonymydemonymyendonymyeponymyethnonymyeuonymygeonymyglottonymyheteronymyhodonymyhomonymyhydronymyhyponymyisonymymeronymymononymyneonymyneuronymy
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

holonymy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/holonymy

MLA

“holonymy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/holonymy. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “holonymy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/holonymy.

Source: holonymy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.