Definitions for irony
ˈaɪ rə ni, ˈaɪ ər-irony

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. sarcasm, irony, satire, caustic remarknoun

   witty language used to convey insults or scorn

   "he used sarcasm to upset his opponent"; "irony is wasted on the stupid"; "Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own"--Jonathan Swift

2. ironynoun

   incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs

   "the irony of Ireland's copying the nation she most hated"

3. ironynoun

   a trope that involves incongruity between what is expected and what occurs

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. ironyadjective

   Of or pertaining to the metal iron.

   The food had an irony taste to it.

2. Etymology: First attested in 1502. From ironia (perhaps via ironie), from εἰρωνεία, from εἴρων.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Ironyadjective

   Made of iron; partaking of iron.

   Etymology: from iron.

   The force they are under is real, and that of their fate but imaginary: it is not strange if the irony chains have more solidity than the contemplative. Henry Hammond, Fundamentals.

   Some springs of Hungary, highly impregnated with vitriolick salts, dissolve the body of one metal, suppose iron, put into the spring; and deposite, in lieu of the irony particles carried off, coppery particles. John Woodward, on Fossils.

2. IRONYnoun

   A mode of speech in which the meaning is contrary to the words: as, Bolingbroke was a holy man.

   Etymology: ironie, Fr. ἰεϱωνεία.

   So grave a body, upon so solemn an occasion, should not deal in irony, or explain their meaning by contraries. Jonathan Swift.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Irony

   Irony (from Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία eirōneía 'dissimulation, feigned ignorance'), in its broadest sense, is the juxtaposition of what on the surface appears to be the case and what is actually the case or to be expected; it is an important rhetorical device and literary technique. Irony can be categorized into different types, including verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony. Verbal, dramatic, and situational irony are often used for emphasis in the assertion of a truth. The ironic form of simile, used in sarcasm, and some forms of litotes can emphasize one's meaning by the deliberate use of language which states the opposite of the truth, denies the contrary of the truth, or drastically and obviously understates a factual connection.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. irony

   Irony is a rhetorical or literary device often used in literature, speeches, and everyday life, where the actual meaning or outcome of a situation is different, typically opposite, from the expected or literal one. This could be presented in the form of a statement, situation or event. It often involves an element of surprise, humor, or even a sense of unexpected absurdity.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Ironyadjective

   made or consisting of iron; partaking of iron; iron; as, irony chains; irony particles

2. Ironyadjective

   resembling iron taste, hardness, or other physical property

3. Ironynoun

   dissimulation; ignorance feigned for the purpose of confounding or provoking an antagonist

4. Ironynoun

   a sort of humor, ridicule, or light sarcasm, which adopts a mode of speech the meaning of which is contrary to the literal sense of the words

5. Etymology: [L. ironia, Gr. dissimulation, fr. a dissembler in speech, fr. to speak; perh. akin to E. word: cf. F. ironie.]

FreebaseRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. Irony

   Irony, in its broadest sense, is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or event characterized by an incongruity, or contrast, between reality and appearance. The term may be further defined into several categories, among which are: verbal, dramatic, and situational. Verbal, dramatic, and situational irony are often used for emphasis in the assertion of a truth. The ironic form of simile, used in sarcasm, and some forms of litotes emphasize one's meaning by the deliberate use of language which states the opposite of the truth — or drastically and obviously understates a factual connection. Other forms include dialectic and practical, as identified by Thirlwall.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Irony

   ī′run-i, n. a mode of speech which enables the speaker to convey his meaning with greater force by means of a contrast between the thought which he evidently designs to express and that which his words properly signify: satire.—adj. Iron′ical, meaning the opposite of what is expressed: satirical.—adv. Iron′ically.—The irony of fate, the perverse malignity of fate. [Fr.,—L. ironia, Gr. eirōneia, dissimulation—eirōn, a dissembler—eirein, to talk.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. Irony

   is a subtle figure of speech in which, while one thing is said, some indication serves to show that quite the opposite is meant; thus apparent praise becomes severe condemnation or ridicule; practical irony is evinced in ostensibly furthering some one's hopes and wishes while really leading him to his overthrow. Life and history are full of irony in the contrast between ambitions and their realisation.

The Roycroft DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. irony

   The cactus-plant that sprouts over the tomb of our dead illusions.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Irony

   Irony vs. Sarcasm -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Irony and Sarcasm.

Matched Categories

1. • Incongruity
   • Trope

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'irony' in Nouns Frequency: #2984

How to pronounce irony?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say irony in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of irony in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of irony in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of irony in a Sentence

1. Jeb Bush:

   The great irony of the Obama presidency is this, someone who came to office, promising greater engagement with the world has left America less influential in the world, everywhere you look, you see the world slipping out of control.

2. W. Somerset Maugham:

   If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will Lose its freedom and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that, too.

3. Karen Friedman:

   It's a cruel irony that in the year we're celebrating the 40th anniversary year of ERISA, Congress is trying to reverse its most significant protections.

4. Agnes Repplier:

   Humor brings insight and tolerance. Irony brings a deeper and less friendly understanding.

5. David Silberklang:

   It is a bizarre irony, in general, if you went to the infirmary in Auschwitz, if you didn't get out of there pretty quickly you were finished ... but yet at that moment in time being there meant you had a higher chance of survival.

Popularity rank by frequency of use