articles of speech

20 Types of Figures of Speech: Definitions and Examples

• A figure of speech is a creative use of language to generate an effect, enhance an expression, or evoke an emotion.
• Some figures of speech, like metaphor , simile , and metonymy , are found in everyday language.
• Others, like antithesis , circumlocution , and puns , require more practice to implement.
• Figures of speech add richness and depth to writing, allowing authors to convey complex ideas and feelings more vividly than straightforward language would allow.
• Language that uses figures of speech is known collectively as figurative language.

Writing is a craft. If you think of yourself as a craftsperson, then words are your raw materials, and figures of speech are one of your tools. Here, we’ll explore some common figures of speech with definitions and examples to help you recognize and use them in your writing.

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Table of contents

What is a figure of speech, figures of speech vs. figurative language, 20 common types of figures of speech, figures of speech faqs.

A figure of speech is a rhetorical device that conveys meaning in a non-literal way, often by employing creative language to enhance expression and evoke emotion. Figures of speech can include metaphors, similes, personification, and hyperbole, among others.

Around us all the time in speech and writing, figures of speech can be divided into schemes and tropes . Schemes rearrange word order for a specific effect, whereas tropes use words in a way that differs from their literal meaning.

By transforming ordinary expressions into more imaginative phrases, figures of speech engage our senses and encourage us to think critically about the underlying meanings.

Language that uses figures of speech is known collectively as figurative language . You will find examples of figurative language in novels , poems , essays , and plays. The opposite of figurative language is literal language . Literal language is the type of straightforward writing you’ll find on road signs, in office memos , and in research papers .

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1   Alliteration

Alliteration refers to repeating consonant sounds right next to each other, which creates a memorable or melodic effect.

“ She sells seashells by the seashore.”

2   Antithesis

Antithesis is a literary technique that places opposite things or ideas next to one another to highlight their contrast.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

3 Apostrophe

Apostrophe as a figure of speech is when a character addresses someone or something that isn’t present or cannot respond. The character might speak to someone deceased, an inanimate object, or a concept.

“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” —William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

4   Circumlocution

Circumlocution is the use of a purposely wordy description. You can think of it as talking in circles.

In Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland , the Queen of Hearts gives confusing directions to Alice using long, roundabout phrases instead of straightforward commands.

5   Epigram

An epigram is a clever and memorable statement. You will find epigrams in speeches , poetry , and sometimes at the beginning of a book.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

6   Euphemism

A euphemism is a soft and inoffensive word or phrase that replaces a harsh, unpleasant, or hurtful one for the sake of sympathy or civility, such as passed away or downsizing .

In George Orwell’s Animal Farm , the character Napoleon refers to the execution of the animals who oppose him as a public purging , which softens the harsh reality of what’s actually happening—murder and violence.

7   Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a deliberate exaggeration that adds emphasis, urgency, or excitement to a statement.

“ If I don’t eat soon, I’m going to die of hunger.”

Irony is when there is a discrepancy between expectation and reality. It often highlights contrasts between appearance and truth or intention and outcome, creating a humorous, tragic, or thought-provoking effect.

In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus vows to find and punish the murderer of King Laius, not realizing that he himself is the murderer.

9   Litotes

Litotes use a double negative to create a positive.

“ You’re not wrong.”

10   Metaphor

A metaphor directly compares dissimilar things to create more vivid imagery or understanding.

“ He was an onion; to understand him, she had to peel back the layers.”

11   Metonymy

Metonymy is a literary device in which a word or object stands for a closely related word or object. Metonymy gives a writer more variability with descriptions.

“I thought his movies were better when they weren’t so Hollywood.”

12   Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is when a word imitates the natural sound of a thing, making the description more expressive and vivid.

“ The bacon sizzled in the pan.” The word sizzled imitates the sound of bacon cooking.

13   Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a phrase that uses two contradictory words to create a new meaning.

The phrase deafening silence contrasts two opposing words: deafening , which suggests a loud noise, and silence , which indicates the absence of sound.

14   Paradox

A paradox is a statement that appears to contradict itself but contains some truth, theme, or humor.

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” —George Orwell, Animal Farm

15   Personification

Personification is assigning human attributes to nonhuman things.

“The floorboards groaned under the weight of each step.”

16   Pleonasm

Pleonasm is the use of more words than necessary to convey meaning. A writer might use pleonasm for humor or emphasis, or they might not realize they’re using extra words at all.

“The burning fire warmed the whole house.”

A pun is a form of wordplay that purposely substitutes words that sound similar but have different meanings.

“‘Mine is a long and a sad tale!’ said the Mouse, turning to Alice and sighing. ‘It is a long tail, certainly,’ said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse’s tail, ‘but why do you call it sad?’” —Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

18   Simile

A simile compares two dissimilar things using like or as to give the reader a more vivid understanding of something.

“It was the first real day of summer, and by the time she came back indoors, she was as red as a tomato.”

19   Synecdoche

Synecdoche is when a smaller unit is used to signify a larger unit or vice versa.

In the expression all hands on deck , hands refers to the crew members who work on a ship. Instead of mentioning the entire person, it uses a part (the hands) to represent the whole.

20   Understatement

Understatement is the intentional downplaying of a situation. This can create a humorous or deadpan effect in writing.

“I have to have this operation. It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.” —J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

What are figures of speech?

Figures of speech are literary devices used to create expressive, imaginative, or impactful language by departing from the literal meaning of words. They enhance writing by adding emphasis, clarity, or beauty, often through comparisons, exaggerations, or symbolic meanings.

What are some types of figures of speech?

Common types of figures of speech include alliteration, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, and simile.

What are the different kinds of figures of speech?

There are hundreds of figures of speech, which can be divided into schemes and tropes. Schemes are figures of speech that rearrange word order for a specific effect, while tropes use words in a way that differs from their literal meaning.

How are figures of speech used in writing?

Figures of speech are used in every type of writing to achieve different effects. Which figure of speech you use depends on what effect you want to have on the reader. For example, you might use simile, metaphor, or antithesis to create more vivid imagery. If you want to add humor, you might try using a pun.