Irony

Pronunciation: /ˈaɪrəniː/

Irony (noun)

  1. A situation where something happens that is the opposite of what you expect.
  2. Using words to say the opposite of what you really mean, often to be funny.
  3. When the audience knows something important that the characters do not know.

Examples

  • It's an irony that the fire station burned down.
  • The irony of the situation was not lost on anyone.

Common collocations: bitter irony, sense of irony, irony in, use irony, irony in tone

Synonyms of Irony

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Antonyms of Irony

  • when discussing genuine expression