Ironic: meaning, definitions and examples
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ironic
[ aɪˈrɒnɪk ]
tone
using words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning; containing or exemplifying irony
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She gave him a bemused, almost ironic smile.
- It is ironic that the firefighter's house burned down.
- The ironic twist at the end of the movie caught everyone by surprise.
situation
happening in the opposite way to what is expected, and typically causing wry amusement because of this
Synonyms
coincidental, paradoxical, unexpected
Examples of usage
- It's ironic that the environmentalist's car polluted the air.
- The ironic coincidence made everyone laugh.
- Isn't it ironic that the weatherman got caught in a sudden rain shower?
Translations
Translations of the word "ironic" in other languages:
🇵🇹 irônico
🇮🇳 विडंबनापूर्ण
🇩🇪 ironisch
🇮🇩 ironis
🇺🇦 іронічний
🇵🇱 ironiczny
🇯🇵 皮肉な (ひにくな)
🇫🇷 ironique
🇪🇸 irónico
🇹🇷 ironik
🇰🇷 아이러니한 (aireoni han)
🇸🇦 ساخر
🇨🇿 ironický
🇸🇰 ironický
🇨🇳 讽刺的 (fěngcì de)
🇸🇮 ironičen
🇮🇸 háðskur
🇰🇿 ирониялы
🇬🇪 ირონიული (ironuli)
🇦🇿 ironik
🇲🇽 irónico
Word origin
The word 'ironic' comes from the Greek word 'eirōnikós', meaning 'dissembling'. The term originally referred to a form of humor that ridiculed through pretended ignorance or innocence. Over time, 'ironic' evolved to describe situations or statements that are the opposite of what is expected, often with a sense of humor or satire.
See also: iron, ironically, ironing, irons, irony.