Definition of 'irony'
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
irony in British English 1
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C16: from Latin ironia, from Greek eirōneia, from eirōn dissembler, from eirein to speak
Word Frequency
irony in British English 2
adjective
of, resembling, or containing iron
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
irony in American English 1
nounWord forms: plural ˈironies
1.
a.
a method of humorous or subtly sarcastic expression in which the intended meaning of the words is the direct opposite of their usual sense
the irony of calling a stupid plan “clever”
b.
an instance of this
2.
the contrast, as in a play, between what a character thinks the truth is, as revealed in a speech or action, and what an audience or reader knows the truth to be
: often dramatic irony 3.
a combination of circumstances or a result that is the opposite of what is or might be expected or considered appropriate
an irony that the firehouse burned
4.
a.
a cool, detached attitude of mind, characterized by recognition of the incongruities and complexities of experience
b.
the expression of such an attitude in a literary work
SIMILAR WORDS: wit
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
Fr ironie < L ironia < Gr eirōneia < eirōn, dissembler in speech < eirein, to speak < IE base *wer-, to speak > wordWord Frequency
irony in American English 1
(ˈairəni, ˈaiər-)
nounWord forms: plural -nies
SYNONYMS 1, 2. irony, sarcasm, satire indicate mockery of something or someone. The essential feature of irony is the indirect presentation of a contradiction between an action or expression and
the context in which it occurs. In the figure of speech, emphasis is placed on the
opposition between the literal and intended meaning of a statement; one thing is said
and its opposite implied, as in the comment, “Beautiful weather, isn’t it?” made when
it is raining or nasty. Ironic literature exploits, in addition to the rhetorical
figure, such devices as character development, situation, and plot to stress the paradoxical
nature of reality or the contrast between an ideal and actual condition, set of circumstances,
etc., frequently in such a way as to stress the absurdity present in the contradiction
between substance and form. irony differs from sarcasm in greater subtlety and wit. In sarcasm ridicule or mockery is used harshly, often crudely and contemptuously, for destructive
purposes. It may be used in an indirect manner, and have the form of irony, as in
“What a fine musician you turned out to be!” or it may be used in the form of a direct
statement, “You couldn’t play one piece correctly if you had two assistants.” The
distinctive quality of sarcasm is present in the spoken word and manifested chiefly by vocal inflection, whereas
satire and irony, arising originally as literary and rhetorical forms, are exhibited in the organization
or structuring of either language or literary material. satire usually implies the use of irony or sarcasm for censorious or critical purposes and
is often directed at public figures or institutions, conventional behavior, political
situations, etc.1.
the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend
2. Literature
a.
a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated
b. (esp in contemporary writing)
a manner of organizing a work so as to give full expression to contradictory or complementary impulses, attitudes, etc., esp. as a means of indicating detachment from a subject, theme, or emotion
3. See Socratic irony
4. See dramatic irony
6.
the incongruity of this
7.
an objectively sardonic style of speech or writing
8.
an objectively or humorously sardonic utterance, disposition, quality, etc
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1495–1505; ‹ L īrōnīa ‹ Gk eirōneía dissimulation, sarcasm, understatement, equiv. to eírōn a dissembler + -eia -y3]Examples of 'irony' in a sentence
irony
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In other languages
irony
British English: irony
/ˈaɪrənɪ/ NOUN
Irony is a form of humour which involves saying things that you do not mean.
There was no irony in his voice.
- American English: irony /ˈaɪər-, ˈaɪrəni/
- Arabic: سُخْرِيَّة
- Brazilian Portuguese: ironia
- Chinese: 讽刺
- Croatian: ironija
- Czech: ironie
- Danish: ironi
- Dutch: ironie
- European Spanish: ironía
- Finnish: ironia
- French: ironie
- German: Ironie
- Greek: ειρωνεία
- Italian: ironia
- Japanese: 皮肉
- Korean: 풍자
- Norwegian: ironi
- Polish: ironia
- European Portuguese: ironia
- Romanian: ironie
- Russian: ирония
- Latin American Spanish: ironía
- Swedish: ironi
- Thai: การเยาะหยัน, การประชดประชัน
- Turkish: ince alay
- Ukrainian: іронія
- Vietnamese: sự mỉa mai
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Definition of irony from the Collins English Dictionary
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