- [uncountable, countable] the funny or strange aspect of a situation that is very different from what you expect; a situation like this
- It was one of life's little ironies.
- the irony (is) that… The irony is that when he finally got the job, he discovered he didn't like it.
Extra Examples- It is a nice irony that the Minister of Transport missed the meeting because her train was delayed.
- The ultimate irony is that the revolution, rather than bringing freedom, actually ended it completely.
- There is a certain irony in the situation.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- heavy
- gentle
- …
- hint
- touch
- trace
- …
- by a… irony
- a certain irony
- [uncountable] the use of words that say the opposite of what you really mean, often as a joke and with a tone of voice that shows this
- ‘England is famous for its food,’ she said with heavy irony.
- There was a note of irony in his voice.
- She said it without a hint/trace of irony.
Extra ExamplesTopics Languagec1- He thanked us all without a touch of irony.
- She congratulated him with gentle irony.
- She tried to ignore the heavy irony in his voice.
- His writing is rich in irony.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- heavy
- gentle
- …
- hint
- touch
- trace
- …
- by a… irony
- a certain irony
see also dramatic irony, tragic irony
Word Originearly 16th cent. (also denoting irony in the Socratic sense): via Latin from Greek eirōneia ‘simulated ignorance’, from eirōn ‘dissembler’.
Check pronunciation:
irony