adv B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

ironically

eye-RO-nihk-lee

Ironically (adv) means In a way that involves irony; used to point out the ironic aspect of something being described. Example: “Ironically, the security guard's own car got broken into.”

adv

In a way that involves irony; used to point out the ironic aspect of something being described.

"Ironically, the security guard's own car got broken into."

"She spoke ironically, clearly not meaning what she said."

How to use ironically

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsed to flag that what follows is ironic — a twist that contradicts what you'd expect.

Common pairings

ironically enough ironically, ...

Word forms

more ironically comparative, most ironically superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____, the security guard's own car got broken into.

Etymology

From ironic plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ally."

Rhymes for ironically

ally bally sally Wally dally rally tally pally really locally usually equally

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Frequently asked questions

What does “ironically” mean?

The word “ironically” means in a way that involves irony; used to point out the ironic aspect of something being described. In plain terms, used to flag that what follows is ironic — a twist that contradicts what you'd expect.

How do you pronounce “ironically”?

“Ironically” is pronounced eye-RO-nihk-lee (/aɪˈɹɑnɪkli/ in IPA).

How do you use “ironically” in a sentence?

Here is “ironically” used in a sentence: “Ironically, the security guard's own car got broken into.”

What part of speech is “ironically”?

“Ironically” is an adverb.

Is “ironically” a common word?

“Ironically” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How is ironically used to introduce a sentence?

Ironically is often placed at the start of a sentence to flag that what follows involves an unexpected, opposite-of-expected turn of events. For example, "Ironically, the fire department's own building lacked smoke detectors."

What is the difference between ironically and interestingly?

Ironically specifically points out that an outcome is the opposite of what was expected or intended, while interestingly simply flags something noteworthy without that contrast. Using ironically incorrectly for something merely surprising or coincidental is a common mistake.

Is it a mistake to use ironically to mean coincidentally?

Yes, this is one of the most common misuses of the word. Ironically should describe an outcome that is the opposite of what was expected, not just an odd coincidence.

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