ironic

CEFRC1

/aɪˈɹɒn.ɪk/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Strangely opposite to what is expected, often in an amusing way.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Acting in an unserious and teasing manner.

Examples

  • When people use the word "ironic", they may mean "comically incongruous".

  • Don't take it personally. We're just being ironic.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • /ɑeˈɹɔn.ɪk/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings
  1. Characterized by or constituting (any kind of) irony.

  2. Odd or coincidental; strange.

  3. Done in an insincere and mocking manner; satirical.

More examples

In context
  • It's ironic that we are eating a sandwich in Sandwich, Massachusetts.

  • It's somewhat ironic to have a wave of smog right on Earth Day.

  • I was being ironic.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

It was blank that the fire station burned down while the firefighters were out on a call.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

Borrowed from Late Latin īrōnicus, from Ancient Greek εἰρωνικός (eirōnikós). Compare Middle French, ironique, equivalent to irony + -ic.