ironically

American  

[ahy-ron-ik-lee] / aɪˈrɒn ɪk li /

adverb

1. in a way that uses words to mean the opposite of what they normally mean, or makes an obvious exaggeration or understatement, as a joke or in order to make a point.

   French author Voltaire ironically commented on war, “It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”

2. in a way that is the opposite of what would be expected, often as a remarkable coincidence.

   Ironically, one of the main messages of this text on warfare is how to avoid battle through meticulous preparation and planning.

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ironically British  

/ aɪˈrɒnɪkəlɪ /

adverb

1. (sentence modifier) it is ironic that

   ironically, McCoist has never scored against Rangers

2. in an ironic manner

   I laughed ironically

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Other Word Forms

• nonironically adverb
• semi-ironically adverb
• unironically adverb

Etymology

Origin of ironically

First recorded in 1530–40; ironical ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

When you see the word ironically, you know there's a disconnect between what is happening and what was expected to happen. You won the race, even though, ironically, you're the only one who didn't train. Ironically and the noun it's related to — irony — come from the Greek eiron meaning "dissembler, someone who hides the truth." But irony isn’t exactly untruthful — it's just not what you expect. Your mother sent you off to camp so you could become a champion tennis player, but, ironically, you broke your leg the first day and spent the summer playing bridge instead. You didn’t get what you (or your mother) expected.

Example Sentences

Aramayo’s portrayal of real-life Tourette’s syndrome activist John Davidson is a truly stunning turn but, ironically, the events of that evening also proved why the film is so necessary right now.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Others are commenting about the situation — ironically, by taking to social media to voice their frustrations about what they’re losing in rewards, be it in points or cash.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

It would appear that Gyllenhaal’s film has been ironically hacked up and reassembled, but the Frankenstein’d version of “The Bride!” that we’re left with works because it wills itself to.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

For a people nicknamed after a flightless bird, taking off overseas has somewhat ironically become a rite of passage for many New Zealanders.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

"You run?" he responded, wiping his hands ironically on his shorts.

From "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• amusingly
• jokingly