irony
noun
called also dramatic irony
called also Socratic irony
Did you know?
What's irony?
Considerable thought is given to what events constitute “true” irony, and the dictionary is often called upon to supply an answer. Here are the facts about how the word irony is used.
Irony has two formal uses that are not as common in general prose as its more casual uses. One refers to Socratic irony—a method of revealing an opponent’s ignorance by pretending to be ignorant yourself and asking probing questions. The other refers to dramatic irony or tragic irony—an incongruity between the situation in a drama and the words used by the characters that only the audience can see. Socratic irony is a tool used in debating; dramatic irony is what happens when the audience realizes that Romeo and Juliet’s plans will go awry.
The third, and debated, use of irony regards what’s called situational irony. Situational irony involves a striking reversal of what is expected or intended: a person sidesteps a pothole to avoid injury and in doing so steps into another pothole and injures themselves. Critics claim the words irony and ironic as they are used in cases lacking a striking reversal, such as “Isn’t it ironic that you called just as I was planning to call you?,” are more properly called coincidence.
The historical record shows that irony and ironic have been used imprecisely for almost 100 years at least, and often to refer to coincidence. This 1939 quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald is typical: "It is an ironic thought that the last picture job I took—against my better judgment—yielded me five thousand dollars five hundred and cost over four thousand in medical attention." Is this true situational irony? It’s debatable.
The word irony has come to be applied to events that are merely curious or coincidental, and while some feel this is an incorrect use of the word, it is merely a new one.
Examples of irony in a Sentence
Amanda Bower, Time, 20 Aug. 2001
The great irony of anthracite is that, tough as it is to light, once you get it lit it's nearly impossible to put out.
—Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods, 1999
And the irony is obvious: those who once had been the victims of separatism, who had sacrificed so dearly to overcome their being at the margins, would later create an ethos of their own separatism.
—Shelby Steele, Harper's, July 1992
a writer known for her clever use of irony
“What a beautiful view,” he said, his voice dripping with irony, as he looked out the window at the alley.
She described her vacation with heavy irony as “an educational experience.”
It was a tragic irony that he made himself sick by worrying so much about his health.
That's just one of life's little ironies.
The irony of the situation was apparent to everyone.
He has a strong sense of irony.
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2024
The irony, of course, is that Aaron’s crimes have far surpassed the type that once prevented Dennis from reaching his full potential.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
In 1884, with no hint of irony, the U.S. Department of Indian Affairs constructed a slaughterhouse on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana and required tribal members to provide the factory’s labor in exchange for its beef.
—Hannah Cutting-Jones, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2024
There’s no shortage of water on Earth, but the irony is that very little of it is safe to drink.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for irony 
Articles Related to irony
Dictionary Entries Near irony
Cite this Entry
“Irony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irony. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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irony
noun
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