Top definition
One of the most misused words in the entire English language.
There are several types of irony.
Socratic irony - When someone pretends to be naive about a certain subject, and uses his questions about it to point out a flaw in the established belief. This is often used on the TV show South Park, where the children often ask questions about a situation until the folly in a parent's decision becomes clear.
Sarcasm - Understatement, mocking overstatement, or heavy-handed irony (stating the flat opposite of the truth) where both parties are aware of the difference between what's said and what's actually happening.
Situational Irony - The irony that most people think of. A difference between what you expect to happen (in a story, for example) and what actually happens. Rain on your wedding day would be a sort-of example, because a wedding day is generally expected to be a perfect, happy day. The good advice you didn't take, however, would NOT be irony, because that has nothing to do with what is expected and what isn't expected. A traffic jam when you're already late wouldn't be irony either; there's no automatic expectation that traffic will be fine, just because you happen to be late.
Irony of Fate - The concept that the Gods, Fates, etc. are toying with humans for amusement by using irony. Beethoven's loss of hearing is a famous example; one would expect a composer to be able to hear his compositions, but fate denied him that ability.
Tragic (Dramatic) Irony - When the audience knows something that some of the characters don't know in a play/movie/novel/whatever. For example, when the horror flick psycho is in the house and the homeowner just goes in without suspecting anything.
There are several types of irony.
Socratic irony - When someone pretends to be naive about a certain subject, and uses his questions about it to point out a flaw in the established belief. This is often used on the TV show South Park, where the children often ask questions about a situation until the folly in a parent's decision becomes clear.
Sarcasm - Understatement, mocking overstatement, or heavy-handed irony (stating the flat opposite of the truth) where both parties are aware of the difference between what's said and what's actually happening.
Situational Irony - The irony that most people think of. A difference between what you expect to happen (in a story, for example) and what actually happens. Rain on your wedding day would be a sort-of example, because a wedding day is generally expected to be a perfect, happy day. The good advice you didn't take, however, would NOT be irony, because that has nothing to do with what is expected and what isn't expected. A traffic jam when you're already late wouldn't be irony either; there's no automatic expectation that traffic will be fine, just because you happen to be late.
Irony of Fate - The concept that the Gods, Fates, etc. are toying with humans for amusement by using irony. Beethoven's loss of hearing is a famous example; one would expect a composer to be able to hear his compositions, but fate denied him that ability.
Tragic (Dramatic) Irony - When the audience knows something that some of the characters don't know in a play/movie/novel/whatever. For example, when the horror flick psycho is in the house and the homeowner just goes in without suspecting anything.
So, yeah, Alanis was wrong in a lot of her song, but there ARE some examples of irony in there - and a few that are kinda-sorta, but could be better. The old man who buys a lottery ticket is one; it would be a better example if he won, and then died of a heart attack from the shock of winning.
by progamer124 December 16, 2004
3
True Story of Irony (January 31, 2009)
A lit cigarette burned a home to the ground while its occupants were attending a meeting to help them quit smoking.
Officials determined the fire was started by a cigarette that had been left burning by the 80-year-old mother of the man who owns the mobile home in San Luis Obispo, California.
The butt was left on a porch table while the two left for a health department meeting to help the woman quit smoking.
The fire caused $200,000 worth of damage.
A lit cigarette burned a home to the ground while its occupants were attending a meeting to help them quit smoking.
Officials determined the fire was started by a cigarette that had been left burning by the 80-year-old mother of the man who owns the mobile home in San Luis Obispo, California.
The butt was left on a porch table while the two left for a health department meeting to help the woman quit smoking.
The fire caused $200,000 worth of damage.
by Nightmare January 31, 2009
4
Guy 1: Hey isnt that che guevara?
Guy 2: Yeah he was totally awesome and against capitalism and shit which is so cool an im like him.
Guy 1: ....and you dont see the conflict, the irony, in wearing a t-shirt produced by a huge corperation dead set on money making that has the face of one of the most famous communist revolutionaries to date on it?
Guy 2: Dude what?
Guy 2: Yeah he was totally awesome and against capitalism and shit which is so cool an im like him.
Guy 1: ....and you dont see the conflict, the irony, in wearing a t-shirt produced by a huge corperation dead set on money making that has the face of one of the most famous communist revolutionaries to date on it?
Guy 2: Dude what?
by Greenchills January 22, 2008
5
The intentional or unintentional association of opposing concepts or actions; a subset of coincidence wherein the opposing nature of the actions or ideas is of particular interest.
In short: Juxtaposition that leads to a comedic or surprising effect.
In short: Juxtaposition that leads to a comedic or surprising effect.
Isn't it ironic that we park in a driveway and drive on a parkway?
Person A: The NRA just used Martin Luther King Jr. to promote gun ownership.
Person B: What irony, considering he died of a gunshot wound.
Person A: Hey! It's you! I haven't seen you since high-school! Is it ironic that we found each other?
Person B: No, that's actually just a regular coincidence. It would have been ironic if we ran into each other somewhere while both trying to avoid going to our high school reunion.
Person A: I remember why I stopped talking to you now.
Person A: The NRA just used Martin Luther King Jr. to promote gun ownership.
Person B: What irony, considering he died of a gunshot wound.
Person A: Hey! It's you! I haven't seen you since high-school! Is it ironic that we found each other?
Person B: No, that's actually just a regular coincidence. It would have been ironic if we ran into each other somewhere while both trying to avoid going to our high school reunion.
Person A: I remember why I stopped talking to you now.
by Cuddle-scut June 29, 2019