English Dictionary
Definition of “irony”
1irony1 (ˈaɪrənɪ
)
Definitions
noun
- the humorous or mildly sarcastic use of words to imply the opposite of what they normally mean
- an instance of this, used to draw attention to some incongruity or irrationality
- incongruity between what is expected to be and what actually is, or a situation or result showing such incongruity
- See dramatic irony
- philosophy See Socratic irony
Word Origin
C16: from Latin ironia, from Greek eirōneia, from eirōn dissembler, from eirein to speak
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
sarcasm,
mockery,
ridicule,
bitterness,
scorn,
satire,
cynicism,
derision,
causticity,
mordancy,
2irony2 (ˈaɪənɪ)
Definitions
adjective
- of, resembling, or containing iron
Translations
- British English:
irony
Irony is a form of humour which involves saying things that you do not mean.There was no irony in his voice.ˈaɪrənɪ NOUN There was no irony in his voice.
- Spanish:
ironía
nf
- French:
ironie
nf
- German:
Ironie
nf
- Chinese: 讽刺 n
- Arabic: سُخْرِيَّة n
- Portuguese: ironia nf
- Russian: ирония nf
- Croatian: ironija nf
- Czech: ironie nf
- Danish: ironi nutr
- Dutch: ironie nf
- Finnish: ironia n
- Greek: ειρωνεία nf
- Italian: ironia nf
- Japanese: 皮肉 n
- Korean: 풍자 n
- Norwegian: ironi nm
- Polish: ironia nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: ironia nf
- European Spanish:
ironía
nf
- Swedish: ironi nutr
- Thai: การประชด n
- Turkish: ince alay n
- Vietnamese: sự mỉa mai n
Usage examples
Smiling at the irony , she was surprised to realize she was rather pleased with his scruples.
St. James, Ian, Final Resort (1994)The irony is that the university may end up in many ways more irrelevant to needs of a modern economy than ever.
Spiked (2003)Making Hitler" something of a Nazi on the subject "is not cheap irony , it's history.
Globe and Mail (2003)Which, given his past in both countries, makes for a double irony.
Glasgow Herald (2001)The irony of my preoccupation with authenticity didn't strike me at the time.
Gwyneth Lewis, SUNBATHING IN THE RAIN (2002)
