irony
EYE-uh-ruh-nee
Irony (noun) means a situation or statement in which the actual outcome or meaning is the opposite of what was expected. Example: “It was a cruel irony that the fitness instructor was the one who broke his leg.”
noun
1
A situation or statement in which the actual outcome or meaning is the opposite of what was expected.
"It was a cruel irony that the fitness instructor was the one who broke his leg."
"The irony of the fire drill was that a real fire broke out an hour later."
"There's a certain irony in a locksmith locking himself out of his own house."
2
A way of speaking in which the literal words mean the opposite of what's intended, often for humorous or sarcastic effect.
"When he said "Great job" after I dropped the tray, the irony was obvious."
"Her writing is full of gentle irony, and readers often smile at what she leaves unsaid."
""Lovely weather," she said with heavy irony as the rain poured down."
How to use irony
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA gap between what's expected or said and what actually happens or is meant.
Common mistake
Not every unfortunate coincidence is irony — true irony needs that reversal of expectation, not just bad luck.
Common pairings
the irony of it
dramatic irony
heavy irony
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Word forms
- Plural
- ironies
- Comparative
- more irony
- Superlative
- most irony
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was a cruel _____ that the fitness instructor was the one who broke his leg.
Etymology
From Latin īrōnīa, from Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία (eirōneía, "pretended ignorance"), from εἴρων (eírōn, "one who feigns ignorance").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for irony
See all rhymes for irony →Frequently asked questions
What does “irony” mean?
The word “irony” means a situation or statement in which the actual outcome or meaning is the opposite of what was expected. In plain terms, a gap between what's expected or said and what actually happens or is meant.
How do you pronounce “irony”?
“Irony” is pronounced EYE-uh-ruh-nee (/ˈaɪ.ɹə.ni/ in IPA).
How do you use “irony” in a sentence?
Here is “irony” used in a sentence: “The irony of the fire drill was that a real fire broke out an hour later.”
What part of speech is “irony”?
“Irony” is a noun.
Where does the word “irony” come from?
The word “irony” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin īrōnīa, from Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία (eirōneía, "pretended ignorance"), from εἴρων (eírōn, "one who feigns ignorance").
Is “irony” a common word?
“Irony” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “irony” have?
“Irony” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a situation or statement in which the actual outcome or meaning is the opposite of what was expected.
What is the difference between irony and sarcasm?
Irony is a situation or statement where the actual outcome or meaning is the opposite of what was expected, while sarcasm is a deliberate, often cutting use of irony in speech to mock or criticise. All sarcasm involves irony, but not all irony is sarcastic.
What are the main types of irony?
Irony broadly covers situations where outcomes are the opposite of what was expected, and verbal irony, where the literal words spoken mean the opposite of what's intended, often for humorous or sarcastic effect. Dramatic irony, a related concept, occurs when an audience knows something the characters do not.
What is an example of situational irony?
Situational irony occurs when the actual outcome of events is the opposite of what was expected, such as a locksmith getting locked out of their own house. This differs from verbal irony, which involves saying the opposite of what is meant.
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