irony

noun

1. (countable, rhetoric, uncountable)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.

   “Irony, saying what it ne'er intends, Censures with praise, and speaks to foes as friends.”

   “A principal virtue of Rorty's recognition of both the lightminded and the serious side of irony is to urge us in that direction.”

2. (countable, 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.

   “It is one of the ironies of capital cities that each acts as a symbol of its nation, and yet few are even remotely representative of it. London has always set itself apart from the rest of Britain — but political, economic and social trends are conspiring to drive that wedge deeper.”

   “The second irony is that the only American who intuitively or otherwise grasps this reality and possesses a large enough ego potentially capable of governing in these circumstances is the president.”

3. (countable, uncountable)Dramatic irony: a theatrical effect in which the meaning of a situation, or some incongruity in the plot, is understood by the audience, but not by the characters in the play.
4. (countable, uncountable)Socratic irony: ignorance feigned for the purpose of confounding or provoking an antagonist.
5. (countable, informal, uncountable)Contradiction between circumstances and expectations; condition contrary to what might be expected.
6. (childish, dated)A kind of metallic marble.

   “And before the season's over millions of "glassies" and "aggies" or "ironies" will change hands, and thousands more will manage to get themselves lost.”

adj

1. Of or pertaining to the metal iron.

   “The food had an irony taste to it.”

   “The scrap yard had bins marked for irony aluminum, such as aluminum engine blocks not wholly cleaned of bolts, studs, brackets, and so on.”

   “Thus in Cornwall, and many parts of Germany and France, in mineral districts, an irony appearance of a vein, where seen at the crop, is regarded as favourable.”

   “E. W. Baker, Main St. - No odor, good appearance, slight irony taste; pressure weak. But water which had stood in wash pitcher some three or four days showed pronounced odor.”

   “There can be no doubt that persistent biking robs the female limb of its graceful contour and substitutes therefore the rugged protrusive muscles, the ungainly and irony look of the masculine leg.”