Irony
noun /ˈaɪ.rə.ni/ — Saying or expressing the opposite of what is meant.
Definition
The expression of meaning through language that signifies the opposite — often with a tone or context that makes the intended meaning clear. Situational irony occurs when circumstances produce the opposite of expected outcomes. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something characters do not.
Beyond the definition
Irony creates distance that enables honesty — it is the mode of speech that says 'I trust you to understand what I'm not saying'. Used well, it is the most intimate form of communication; used badly, it is the coward's shelter.
Origin & history
From Latin 'ironia', from Greek 'eironeia' (dissimulation); from 'eiron' (one who dissembles). The dissembler — the one who seems not to know what they know.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Socratic irony is the dissembling of ignorance to draw out the interlocutor's own contradictions.
Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic' is famously not ironic — the situations described are unfortunate coincidences, not irony.
She used irony so regularly that when she said something sincerely, no one knew how to receive it.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Irony” when the meaning fits your context: The expression of meaning through language that signifies the opposite — often with a tone or context that makes the intended meaning clear. Situational irony occurs when circumstances produce the opposite of expected outcomes. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something characters do not.
Synonyms
paradox, incongruity
Antonyms
directness, literal statement, sincerity
Related words
Irony vs sarcasm
Irony is a literary device highlighting incongruity between expectation and reality. Sarcasm is a form of verbal irony specifically intended to mock, ridicule, or wound.
Compare this word
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
Fundamental Tension of Opposites
Two adults debate at a crossroads, pointing toward paths leading to light and shadow.
The physical division between the two paths represents the tension of irony. It captures the discord between expected outcomes and the reality of the situation, where one direction represents the opposite of the other.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Irony" mean?
Irony is noun meaning: Saying or expressing the opposite of what is meant.. The expression of meaning through language that signifies the opposite — often with a tone or context that makes the intended meaning clear. Situational irony occurs when circumstances produce the opposite of expected outcomes. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something characters do not.
Where does the word "Irony" come from?
From Latin 'ironia', from Greek 'eironeia' (dissimulation); from 'eiron' (one who dissembles). The dissembler — the one who seems not to know what they know.