ironic
Americanadjective
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using words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning; containing or exemplifying irony.
an ironic novel; an ironic remark.
-
of, relating to, or tending to use irony or mockery; ironical.
-
coincidental; unexpected.
It was ironic that I was seated next to my ex-husband at the dinner.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of ironic
First recorded in 1620–30; from Late Latin īrōnicus, from Greek eirōnikós “dissembling, insincere;” see irony 1, -ic
Explanation
If something is ironic it's unexpected, often in an amusing way. If you're the world chess champion, it would be pretty ironic if you lost a match to someone who just learned to play yesterday. Ironic is the adjective for the noun irony. In contemporary speech, when we call something ironic, we often mean sarcastic. If you spill coffee all over drawings you've been working on all morning, you might ironically tell your coworker, "I've done something wonderful!" An ironic outcome is the opposite of what's intended. Having someone splash mud on you is always annoying, but it would be ironic if they had splashed you because they were running up to wipe dirt off you.
Vocabulary lists containing ironic
The Giver
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The Catcher in the Rye
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This Week in Words: October 28 - November 2, 2018
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It would be ironic indeed if the Metcalfe’s Law model were to help bitcoin come full circle to what its supporters originally intended it to be.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
That wryly ironic, quietly devastating and now-famous monologue, scored with Iggy Pop’s mad rush of a punk anthem, “Lust for Life,” sets off a cinematic whirlwind.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
How ironic that this is so often how she appears in the film: shrouded in darkness, barely visible, her eyes glowing through the shadows and begging for someone to see the real her.
From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026
How ironic that Hamilton should finish behind Antonelli - but what is going on with Ferrari?
From BBC • May 26, 2026
Sarcasm didn’t come naturally to her, and even to herself she sounded more plaintive than ironic.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
