noun
irony
EYE-uh-ruh-nee
noun
1
A situation or statement in which the actual outcome or meaning is the opposite of what was expected.
"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.
""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
Word Forms
more irony comparative, ironies plural, ironies plural, most irony superlative
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The _____ of the fire drill was that a real fire broke out an hour later.
Etymology
From Latin īrōnīa, from Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία (eirōneía, "pretended ignorance"), from εἴρων (eírōn, "one who feigns ignorance").