irony
gb/ˈaɪɹəni/ us/ˈaɪɹəni/
B2
English
~ 7100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
Situation opposite to expectation
A situation where what really happens is very different from what people thought would happen, often in a surprising or sad-funny way.
Usage pattern:
the irony is that [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners often use “irony” when they only mean “coincidence” or “something bad.” Irony usually needs a contrast between what was expected and what actually happens. For example, winning the lottery is surprising but not ironic by itself; it is ironic if you just gave a speech about how you never win anything.
Synonyms
paradox (Focuses more on a logical or surprising contradiction, not always tied to real-life outcomes or emotions.)
Antonyms
predictability (Highlights that events happen as expected, without the surprising contrast that creates irony.)
Collocations
the irony is that
|the irony of [something]
|bitter irony
|cruel irony
|tragic irony
|a sense of irony
Themes
thinking
|emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The irony is that he trained for months, but got sick on the day of the race.
- She hates flying, and yet, in a strange irony, her new job requires her to travel every week.
- There was a cruel irony in the fact that the fire station burned down.
- He spent years avoiding technology, and the irony is that he now runs a successful software company.
- The film’s greatest irony is that the hero becomes the very thing he fought against.
Learner examples
- The irony is that I was late because I left home early.
- There is a bitter irony in losing your job the day after you buy a new car.
- It was pure irony that the lifeguard could not swim that day because of an injury.
- We laughed at the irony of having a picnic on the only rainy day of the month.
Noun
B2
action
2
Saying the opposite of your meaning
When a person uses words that are the opposite of what they really think, usually to be funny or to make a clever or critical comment.
Usage pattern:
say [something] with irony
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse irony with sarcasm. Sarcasm is usually direct and can sound rude or mean. Irony is a broader idea and can be gentle or just playful. Learners also sometimes think irony only means ‘joke,’ but it always involves a difference between words and real meaning.
Synonyms
sarcasm (Usually harsher and more openly mocking or hurtful; irony can be gentle, playful, or purely witty.)
Antonyms
sincerity (Involves saying exactly what you mean, with no hidden or opposite message.)
Collocations
with heavy irony
|with obvious irony
|with a touch of irony
|a note of irony
|voice full of irony
|subtle irony
Themes
communication
|emotions
|culture
|daily_life
|education
Examples
- “What a beautiful day,” she said with heavy irony as the rain poured down.
- His voice was full of irony when he congratulated them on being ‘so organized’ after they lost the tickets.
- The headline was written with clear irony, praising the company while actually criticizing its failures.
- You could hear the irony in his tone when he thanked his boss for the ‘wonderful’ last‑minute changes.
Learner examples
- She spoke with irony when she said, “Nice job,” after he broke the glass.
- There was clear irony in his comment, so nobody thought he was serious.
- The teacher used irony to make a joke about the noisy class.
- He did not understand the irony, so he thought she was being honest.
Noun
literary
C1
relation
3
Audience knows more than the character
In a story, play, or film, when the people watching know something that the character does not know, so what the character says or does is funny, sad, or scary in a special way.
Usage pattern:
dramatic irony in [a story/film/play]
Common mistake:
Learners often mix up this literary sense with everyday ‘ironic situations.’ Here, the key point is the gap between what characters know and what the audience knows inside a story, not just any surprising real‑life event.
Synonyms
dramatic irony (A more precise term for this specific literary device; often used as the standard label in criticism and teaching.)
Antonyms
straightforward narration (A style of storytelling in which the audience and characters share the same information, without hidden double meanings.)
Collocations
dramatic irony
|comic irony
|rich in irony
|layers of irony
|irony of fate
|narrative irony
Themes
literature
|media
|education
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- The film uses dramatic irony to build tension, as we know the killer is in the house while the hero does not.
- In Shakespeare’s plays, irony often comes from the audience understanding a prophecy that the characters misread.
- The scene is rich in irony because the politician proudly announces his honesty while the viewers have already seen his crimes.
- Critics praised the series for its subtle use of irony, letting the audience see the disaster coming long before the characters do.
Learner examples
- There is strong dramatic irony in this play, because the audience knows the secret from the beginning.
- The teacher explained how the movie uses irony to make the ending more powerful.
- In this story, irony makes the readers feel sad, because they know the hero will die but he does not.
- We studied the writer’s use of irony in class today.
Grammar
Dictionary form
irony
IPA
GB/ˈaɪɹəni/
US/ˈaɪɹəni/
Syllables & stress
irony (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (irony)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: irony
- Plural: ironies, irony
Word family
Forms
ironies
noun
Core family
ironic
adjective B2
ironically
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
unironic
adjective
unironically
adverb
Advanced or less common
ironist
noun
ironical
adjective
Expressions
bitter irony
1/bˈɪtɚ ˈaɪɹəni/
fixed phrase
Painful or sad kind of irony
Irony that feels very sad or unfair, not funny.
Examples
- It was a bitter irony that the safety officer was the only one injured in the accident.
- There is a bitter irony in the fact that the hospital ran out of medicine during a health campaign.
irony of fate
1/ˈaɪɹəni əv fˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
literary
Cruel or unexpected twist of events
When life gives a result that is very different from what someone wanted, in a way that feels strange or unfair.
Examples
- In a final irony of fate, the inventor died the day before his product became a success.
- The novel ends with an irony of fate: the man who feared the sea all his life dies in a car crash far from the coast.
sense of irony
1/sˈɛns əv ˈaɪɹəni/
fixed phrase
Ability to notice or use irony
The ability to see when life is ironic, or to make ironic jokes or comments.
Examples
- You need a good sense of irony to enjoy this TV show.
- Her strong sense of irony helps her laugh at her own mistakes.
the irony is that
1/ðə ˈaɪɹəni ˈɪz ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
Introduce an opposite, unexpected result
Used to show that what really happens is very different from what people expected.
Examples
- The irony is that we moved to the city for peace and quiet, and now it’s louder than our old town.
- The irony is that he became famous only after he died.
the irony of it is that
1/ðə ˈaɪɹəni əv ˈɪt ˈɪz ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
Emphasize the ironic result of something
A stronger way to say that the real result is very different from what people thought would happen.
Examples
- The irony of it is that she finally got her dream job the week she decided to quit that career.
- The irony of it is that they closed the park to protect nature, but people now damage other areas instead.
with heavy irony
1/wˈɪθ hˈɛvi ˈaɪɹəni/
fixed phrase
Using very strong, obvious irony
In a way that makes it very clear you mean the opposite of what you say.
Examples
- He thanked them with heavy irony for ‘making everything so easy’ after a day of problems.
- She said, with heavy irony, that the broken elevator was ‘a great surprise workout.’