A figure of speech is a word or phrase used in a non-literal way to create emphasis, clarity, or emotional impact. Figures of speech go beyond the ordinary meaning of words to make your writing more vivid, persuasive, and memorable.
You use figures of speech every day without realizing it. When you say someone has a “heart of gold” or that it’s “raining cats and dogs,” you’re using figurative language that your listener understands isn’t meant literally.
Here’s what you’ll find in this reference:
- Clear definitions of 25+ figures of speech
- Real examples for each type
- A quick-reference comparison table
- The difference between figures of speech and figurative language
Let’s break them down.
What Is a Figure of Speech?
A figure of speech is a rhetorical device that uses words or expressions in ways that differ from their literal interpretation. Writers and speakers use them to add color, emphasis, or emotional depth to their language.
Figures of speech fall into two broad categories:
- Tropes — figures that change the meaning of words (metaphor, irony, hyperbole)
- Schemes — figures that change the arrangement of words (alliteration, anaphora, chiasmus)
This distinction comes from classical rhetoric and helps you understand why each figure works. Tropes make you think differently. Schemes make you hear differently.
25+ Types of Figures of Speech
1. Metaphor
A metaphor compares two unlike things directly, without using “like” or “as.”
Example: “Time is a thief that steals our youth.”
Time isn’t literally a thief. But the comparison helps you feel how time takes things from you quietly and without permission. Metaphors are one of the most powerful tools in any writer’s toolkit — learn more in our metaphor vs. simile guide.
2. Simile
A simile compares two things using “like” or “as.”
Example: “Her voice was smooth as velvet.”
Similes make abstract qualities concrete. Your reader can feel velvet, so now they can hear the voice. The difference between simile and metaphor is just the connector word — similes are explicit comparisons, metaphors are implicit.
3. Personification
Personification gives human qualities to non-human things — objects, animals, or abstract ideas.
Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”
Wind can’t whisper. But describing it this way makes the scene feel alive and intimate. Personification is essential for building imagery in writing.
4. Hyperbole
Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or humor.
Example: “I’ve told you a million times.”
You haven’t actually said it a million times. The exaggeration communicates frustration more effectively than saying “I’ve told you several times.”
5. Irony
Irony expresses a meaning that’s the opposite of the literal words.
Example: Saying “What beautiful weather!” during a thunderstorm.
There are three main types of irony: verbal (saying the opposite of what you mean), situational (when the outcome is opposite to expectations), and dramatic irony (when the audience knows something a character doesn’t).
6. Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely connected words.
Example: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
Alliteration creates rhythm and makes phrases memorable. It’s a scheme — it doesn’t change meaning, but it changes how language sounds.
7. Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the natural sound it describes.
Example: “The bacon sizzled in the pan.”
Words like buzz, crash, murmur, and hiss all sound like the thing they describe. Onomatopoeia brings sensory immediacy to your writing.
8. Oxymoron
An oxymoron combines two contradictory terms in a single phrase.
Example: “Deafening silence filled the courtroom.”
The contradiction forces you to think more deeply about the meaning. Silence can’t literally be deafening, but the phrase captures a silence so intense it feels overwhelming.
9. Paradox
A paradox is a statement that seems self-contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.
Example: “You have to spend money to make money.”
Unlike an oxymoron (which is usually two words), a paradox is a full statement. The contradiction is only surface-level — beneath it lies genuine insight.
10. Allusion
An allusion is an indirect reference to a well-known person, event, work of art, or text.
Example: “He was a real Romeo with the ladies.”
The reference to Shakespeare’s Romeo immediately communicates the idea of a passionate romantic. Allusions work because they pack a lot of meaning into very few words. See more in our guide to allusion as a literary device.
11. Idiom
An idiom is a phrase whose meaning can’t be understood from the individual words.
Example: “She let the cat out of the bag.”
This means she revealed a secret — nothing to do with actual cats or bags. Idioms are culturally specific and can be challenging for non-native speakers or translators.
12. Euphemism
A euphemism substitutes a mild or indirect expression for one that’s harsh, blunt, or offensive.
Example: “He passed away” instead of “He died.”
Euphemisms soften difficult topics. They’re common in everyday speech, politics, and professional settings.
13. Pun
A pun plays on the multiple meanings of a word or on words that sound alike.
Example: “I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.”
Puns create humor through double meaning. “Interest” works both as a financial term and an emotional one.
14. Metonymy
Metonymy replaces the name of something with the name of something closely associated with it.
Example: “The White House issued a statement” (meaning the U.S. President or administration).
You’re not talking about the building itself. You’re using a closely related term as a stand-in. Metonymy is everywhere in news, politics, and daily conversation.
15. Synecdoche
Synecdoche uses a part of something to represent the whole (or vice versa).
Example: “All hands on deck” (hands = sailors/workers).
Synecdoche is a specific type of metonymy. The part-for-whole substitution creates compact, vivid language.
16. Litotes
Litotes is understatement through double negation or deliberate minimization.
Example: “She’s not bad at chess” (meaning she’s quite good).
By understating, you actually draw more attention to the quality. Litotes is common in British English and adds a layer of subtlety to your writing.
17. Anaphora
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses.
Example: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields.” — Winston Churchill
Anaphora builds momentum and emotional intensity. It’s one of the most effective tools in speeches and persuasive writing.
18. Apostrophe (Figure of Speech)
Apostrophe as a figure of speech is when a speaker directly addresses an absent person, a dead person, or an abstract concept.
Example: “O Death, where is thy sting?”
This isn’t about the punctuation mark — it’s about turning to address something that can’t respond. Read more in our apostrophe figure of speech guide.
19. Antithesis
Antithesis places two contrasting ideas in parallel structure to highlight their difference.
Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” — Charles Dickens
The parallel structure makes the contrast sharper and more memorable. Antithesis works because your brain naturally processes comparisons.
20. Chiasmus
Chiasmus reverses the grammatical structure of a phrase in the next phrase.
Example: “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” — John F. Kennedy
The ABBA structure (country-you / you-country) creates a satisfying mirror effect that makes the statement quotable and memorable.
21. Climax (Gradatio)
Climax arranges words, phrases, or clauses in order of increasing importance.
Example: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” — Julius Caesar
Each element escalates from the previous one, building toward the most significant point. This figure of speech is powerful in rhetoric and storytelling.
22. Transferred Epithet
A transferred epithet applies an adjective to a noun it doesn’t logically describe, transferring a quality from one thing to another.
Example: “She had a sleepless night.”
The night itself wasn’t sleepless — she was. But transferring “sleepless” to “night” creates a more evocative, compact expression.
23. Epigram
An epigram is a brief, witty, and memorable statement.
Example: “I can resist everything except temptation.” — Oscar Wilde
Epigrams often contain a twist or paradox. They’re popular in literature, speeches, and social media because they’re inherently shareable.
24. Tautology
Tautology repeats an idea using different words, often unintentionally.
Example: “It was adequate enough.”
“Adequate” already means “enough,” so the repetition is redundant. In writing, tautology is usually a flaw to edit out — though some tautologies are used deliberately for emphasis.
25. Polysyndeton
Polysyndeton uses multiple conjunctions in close succession, often where they’re not grammatically required.
Example: “He ran and jumped and laughed and cried.”
The repeated “and” creates a sense of abundance, breathlessness, or relentless motion. It slows the reader down and gives equal weight to each action.
26. Asyndeton
Asyndeton is the opposite of polysyndeton — it omits conjunctions between words or phrases.
Example: “I came, I saw, I conquered.”
Removing the conjunctions speeds up the rhythm and creates a punchy, decisive tone.
Quick-Reference Table: Common Figures of Speech
| Figure of Speech | Category | What It Does | Quick Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metaphor | Trope | Direct comparison without “like/as" | "Life is a journey” |
| Simile | Trope | Comparison using “like” or “as" | "Brave as a lion” |
| Personification | Trope | Gives human traits to non-humans | ”The sun smiled down” |
| Hyperbole | Trope | Deliberate exaggeration | ”I’m starving” |
| Irony | Trope | Says the opposite of what’s meant | ”How delightful” (sarcastically) |
| Alliteration | Scheme | Repeats initial consonant sounds | ”She sells seashells” |
| Onomatopoeia | Trope | Word sounds like what it describes | ”The bee buzzed” |
| Oxymoron | Trope | Combines contradictory terms | ”Bittersweet” |
| Paradox | Trope | Seems contradictory but reveals truth | ”Less is more” |
| Idiom | Trope | Phrase with non-literal meaning | ”Break a leg” |
| Euphemism | Trope | Mild term for harsh reality | ”Let go” (fired) |
| Pun | Trope | Plays on word meanings/sounds | ”I’m reading about gravity — it’s riveting” |
| Metonymy | Trope | Substitutes associated term | ”The Crown” (monarchy) |
| Synecdoche | Trope | Part represents whole | ”Nice wheels” (car) |
| Litotes | Trope | Understatement via negation | ”Not unlikely” |
| Anaphora | Scheme | Repeats phrase at start of clauses | ”I have a dream…” |
| Antithesis | Scheme | Parallel contrasting ideas | ”To err is human, to forgive divine” |
| Chiasmus | Scheme | Reverses structure in mirrored phrase | ”Fair is foul, foul is fair” |
Figures of Speech vs. Figurative Language
These terms are related but not identical.
Figurative language is the broad category. It includes any language that goes beyond literal meaning — metaphors, similes, symbolism, imagery, and more.
Figures of speech are specific devices within figurative language. Every figure of speech is figurative language, but not all figurative language is a figure of speech.
Think of it this way: figurative language is the umbrella. Figures of speech are individual tools under that umbrella.
Tropes vs. Schemes: Understanding the Two Categories
This is a distinction most articles miss, but it comes from classical rhetoric and helps you use figures of speech more deliberately.
Tropes change the meaning of words. When you say “the world is a stage,” you’ve changed what “stage” means in that context. Metaphor, irony, hyperbole, metonymy — all tropes.
Schemes change the arrangement of words. When you write “I came, I saw, I conquered,” the meaning of each word stays literal — but the structure creates impact. Alliteration, anaphora, chiasmus, antithesis — all schemes.
Why does this matter? Because tropes and schemes serve different purposes:
- Use tropes when you want your reader to think differently about something
- Use schemes when you want your reader to feel the rhythm and emphasis
The most powerful writing combines both. Shakespeare, for instance, layered metaphors (tropes) inside antithetical structures (schemes) constantly.
How to Use Figures of Speech in Your Writing
You don’t need to memorize all 25+ types. Focus on these principles:
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Match the figure to your purpose. Need emotional impact? Try metaphor or personification. Need humor? Try puns or hyperbole. Need emphasis? Try anaphora or antithesis.
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Don’t overuse them. One well-placed metaphor is more effective than five stacked on top of each other. Mix figurative language with clear, direct prose.
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Avoid cliches. “Dead as a doornail” was once a vivid simile. Now it’s a cliche. Create fresh comparisons that surprise your reader.
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Read them aloud. Schemes especially — alliteration, anaphora, chiasmus — rely on sound. If it doesn’t sound good spoken, revise it.
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Study great writers. Pay attention to how your favorite authors use figurative language. The patterns will start appearing in your own work naturally.
If you’re writing a book and want to strengthen your prose with figurative language, tools like Chapter can help you draft and refine your manuscript while you focus on craft-level decisions like these.
What Is the Most Common Figure of Speech?
The most common figure of speech is the metaphor. You encounter metaphors constantly in everyday conversation — “falling in love,” “time flies,” “a broken heart.” Most people use metaphors and similes without even recognizing them as figures of speech.
Idioms are also extremely common in daily speech, though they’re often so familiar that people forget they’re figurative. Phrases like “kick the bucket” or “piece of cake” are figures of speech that have become so embedded in language they feel literal.
What Is the Difference Between a Metaphor and a Simile?
A metaphor says something is something else: “The world is a stage.” A simile says something is like something else: “The world is like a stage.”
Both create comparisons, but metaphors are stronger because they assert identity rather than similarity. Similes are safer — they acknowledge the comparison is approximate. Neither is better; they serve different purposes depending on how bold you want the comparison to feel.
Can Figures of Speech Be Used in Formal Writing?
Yes. Figures of speech appear in academic papers, legal briefs, business reports, and political speeches. The key is choosing the right figure for the context.
Formal writing benefits from litotes (“not insignificant”), antithesis (“not for personal gain, but for public good”), and carefully placed metaphors. Avoid puns, heavy hyperbole, and colloquial idioms in formal contexts.
FAQ
What does “figure of speech” mean in simple terms?
A figure of speech means using words in a creative, non-literal way to express an idea more vividly. Instead of saying exactly what you mean, you bend language to create emphasis, emotion, or imagery. Common examples include saying “I’m drowning in work” (hyperbole) or “time flies” (metaphor).
How many types of figures of speech are there?
There are over 250 named figures of speech in classical rhetoric, though most writers regularly use about 15-20. The most common types include metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, irony, alliteration, and onomatopoeia. They’re broadly divided into tropes (which change word meaning) and schemes (which change word arrangement).
What is the difference between a figure of speech and a literary device?
A figure of speech is a specific type of literary device. Literary devices include a broader range of techniques — plot structures, narrative point of view, foreshadowing, symbolism — that go beyond individual word choices. Every figure of speech is a literary device, but not every literary device is a figure of speech.
