C1nounlanguagearts
US/ˈaɪ.rə.ni/
UK/ˈaɪə.rə.ni/
an odd situation that is the opposite of what you expect, or saying the opposite of what you mean
In context
The irony is that the fire station burned down last week.
She said 'Great weather!' with heavy irony as the rain poured down.
Many students miss the irony in the poem and read it too literally.
Words that go with irony
noun + preposition
- irony ofThe irony of the situation made everyone laugh.
- sense of ironyBritish humour depends on a strong sense of irony.
- touch of ironyThe title of the song has a touch of irony.
adjective + noun
- bitter ironyIt is a bitter irony that such a rich country has so many hungry children.
- cruel ironyBy a cruel irony, he lost his job the day after buying a house.
- dramatic ironyDramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the characters don't.
- certain ironyThere is a certain irony in a dentist who eats so much sugar.