ironically
Americanadverb
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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.”
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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.
adverb
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(sentence modifier) it is ironic that
ironically, McCoist has never scored against Rangers
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in an ironic manner
I laughed ironically
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing ironically
Hoot
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Ghost
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The Tipping Point
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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.
Mollen, ironically, knows the pattern: In her Substack essay, she recalls that her mother-in-law “fell apart” when she and Biggs announced their engagement.
From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026
Sean Harper, chief executive of tech-based insurer Kin Insurance, said its relatively high nonpayment rate—58% last year— “is ironically due to some of the really customer-friendly stuff that we do.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026
Anna Zakharenkova, short-shaved hair and sunglasses on her head, held up a sign ironically asking if her slogan was in line with the so-called good morals.
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
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
Mustapha Mond intercepted his anxious glance and the corners of his red lips twitched ironically.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
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.
