irony

CEFRB2

/ˈaɪə.ni/

noun

Türkçe translations

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In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A situation or statement that has an opposite meaning or result.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    Dramatic irony: a theatrical effect in which the meaning of a situation, or some incongruity in the plot, is understood by the audience, but not by the characters in the play.

Examples

  • There was a touch of irony in his speech.

  • Tone of voice can indicate anger and irony.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Also pronounced

  • /ˈɑɪ.ɹən.i/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. The quality of a statement that, when taken in context, may actually mean something different from, or the opposite of, what is written literally; the use of words expressing something other than their literal intention, often in a humorous context.

  2. An ironic statement.

  3. Socratic irony: ignorance feigned for the purpose of confounding or provoking an antagonist.

More examples

In context

  • The food had an irony taste to it.

  • The scrap yard had bins marked for irony aluminum, such as aluminum engine blocks not wholly cleaned of bolts, studs, brackets, and so on.

  • A principal virtue of Rorty's recognition of both the lightminded and the serious side of irony is to urge us in that direction.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank of the situation was clear when the safety inspector fell down the stairs.

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

Nearby

Origin

noun

First attested in 1502. From Middle French ironie, from Old French, from Latin īrōnīa, from Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία (eirōneía, “irony, pretext”), from εἴρων (eírōn, “one who feigns ignorance”).