What figure of speech substitutes the name of one thing with that of something closely associated with it?

Metonymy is a figure of speech that involves substituting the name of one entity with the name of something that is closely associated with it. This technique relies on the relationship between the two things, allowing for a more vivid or indirect reference. For example, referring to the “White House” to mean the U.S. president or the U.S. administration showcases metonymy because the term "White House" is not literally standing in for the president but is associated with their role and actions.

In contrast, other figures of speech such as personification attribute human qualities to non-human entities, metaphor establishes an implicit comparison between two unlike things directly, and simile makes comparisons using "like" or "as." Each of these have distinct characteristics that do not align with the definition of substituting names based on association, which is why metonymy is the appropriate choice here.