ironic implies an attempt to be amusing or provocative by saying usually the opposite of what is meant.

IRONIC definition: using words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning; containing or exemplifying irony. See examples of ironic used in a sentence.

Figurative use of language ironically (Definition of ironic from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

If you say that it is ironic that something should happen, you mean that it is odd or amusing because it involves a contrast. I find it ironic that after all the motorbike accidents he has had, he should, in the …

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.

Definition of ironic adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

ironic - Something is ironic if the result is the opposite of what was intended; an ironic event is an incongruous event, one at odds with what might have been expected.

Dec 11, 2025 · ironic (comparative more ironic, superlative most ironic) It's somewhat ironic to have a wave of smog right on Earth Day. It was ironic I forgot my textbook on human memory. Chloe had …

of, relating to, containing, or showing irony or mockery: an ironic smile. [it + be + ~ + that clause] It is ironic that in peacetime they spent more on the military than during wartime.

In English, 'ironic' describes a situation or statement that displays a sharp contrast between what is expected or intended and what actually occurs. It often involves a twist of fate, where the outcome is …