2. / Columbia Encyclopedia
  3. / Literature and the Arts
  4. / Language, Linguistics, and Literary Terms
  5. / Literature: General
  6. / figure of speech

figure of speech

figure of speech, intentional departure from straight-forward, literal use of language for the purpose of clarity, emphasis, or freshness of expression. See separate articles on antithesis; apostrophe; conceit; hyperbole; irony; litotes; metaphor; metonymy; paradox; personification; simile; and synecdoche.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2025, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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