irony
Irony is when life doesn't go as planned or when people say the opposite of what they mean. It's often used to describe situations that are humorous because of their unexpectedness.
When we use irony in everyday conversation, it usually means saying something with a twist or being sarcastic about a situation. For example, if someone says "What a beautiful day!" on a gloomy and rainy day, they're using irony to express the opposite feeling. This kind of irony is often used to be humorous or ironic without being mean-spirited. We can also use it to describe situations that are unexpected, like when a fire station catches on fire - it's just too ironic!
How common is "irony"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
noun
(rhetoric) The quality of a statement that, when taken in context, may actually mean something different from, or the opposite of, what is written literally; the use of words expressing something other than their literal intention, often in a humorous context.
Real examples of "irony" in context
