Ironic
adjective /aɪˈrɒnɪk/ — Meaning something different — often opposite — from what is literally said.
Definition
Expressing irony; using words to convey a meaning that is contrary to their literal sense, or relating to a situation where what happens is the opposite of what was expected.
Beyond the definition
The ironic mode is the favorite of people who feel things too deeply to be earnest about them — a protective distance. Ironic appreciation is still appreciation. Ironic detachment is still feeling.
Origin & history
From Greek eirōnikós — dissembling, feigning ignorance (from eirōneia: dissimulation). The Socratic technique of pretending not to know. The original irony was philosophical, not comedic.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
It was ironic that the self-help book about procrastination remained half-read on her nightstand for years.
His ironic tone made it hard to tell when he was being sincere — or whether he still knew how to be.
She'd lived long enough to find the ironic distance between intention and outcome darkly funny.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Ironic” when the meaning fits your context: Expressing irony; using words to convey a meaning that is contrary to their literal sense, or relating to a situation where what happens is the opposite of what was expected.
Synonyms
Antonyms
sincere, literal, earnest, straightforward
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Person With Plastic-Wrapped Goods
A person looks conflicted while looking between a reusable bag and a pile of unnecessary plastic-wrapped purchases they have just brought home.
Irony exists where what happens is the opposite of what was expected. The conflict between the person’s desire to care for nature, represented by the cloth bag, and their act of buying excessive plastic packaging is inherently ironic, as their actions are exactly the opposite of their intended values and expectations.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Ironic" mean?
Ironic is adjective meaning: Meaning something different — often opposite — from what is literally said.. Expressing irony; using words to convey a meaning that is contrary to their literal sense, or relating to a situation where what happens is the opposite of what was expected.
Where does the word "Ironic" come from?
From Greek eirōnikós — dissembling, feigning ignorance (from eirōneia: dissimulation). The Socratic technique of pretending not to know. The original irony was philosophical, not comedic.