dramatic irony

American  

[druh-mat-ik ahy-ruh-nee, ahy-er-nee] / drəˈmæt ɪk ˈaɪ rə ni, ˈaɪ ər ni /

noun

1. irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play.

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dramatic irony British  

noun

1. theatre the irony occurring when the implications of a situation, speech, etc, are understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play

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Etymology

Origin of dramatic irony

First recorded in 1905–10

Compare meaning

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

• situational irony vs. dramatic irony

Example Sentences

Still, there’s a bittersweet dramatic irony at play because the reader can recognize that Camille is, at least sometimes, yet another of Sailor’s tools.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2025

Plus, the missing feature being designed to delete things adds dramatic irony, as Android Central’s “Google magically erases Magic Eraser” headline pokes fun at.

From The Verge • Nov. 12, 2021

There’s dramatic irony in the fact that he does not know Man was his Torquemada.

From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2021

There is a great deal of dramatic irony around the timing for my book in a moment people are talking about nothing other than how apocalyptic everything feels.

From Salon • May 6, 2020

Somehow, between Miss Palma saying, “Please take note of the dramatic irony in this scene,” and my brain saying, “Bip bop dit dit doo-wah,” I got through the class.

From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick