situational irony

American  

[sich-oo-ey-shuh-nl ahy-ruh-nee, ahyer-] / ˈsɪtʃ uˌeɪ ʃə nl ˈaɪ rə ni, ˈaɪər- /

noun

1. irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected.

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Etymology

Origin of situational irony

First recorded in 1960–65

Compare meaning

How does situational-irony compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• situational irony vs. dramatic irony

Example Sentences

“And the situational irony of the ‘Coroner to the Stars’ attending his own Hollywood premiere, complete with a red carpet, is not lost on me.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2025

The initial reporting by Iowa media, largely sourced from Guthrie county authorities, had all the low-stakes scandal and situational irony to make a trending news story on social media.

From The Guardian • Apr. 8, 2020