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 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.

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 …

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 · Adjective ironic (comparative more ironic, superlative most ironic) An unintentionally ironic protest sign (of a situation) Characterized by or constituting (any kind of) irony. It's somewhat …

ironic, adj. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

• It's ironic that the most important people in the country often have so little understanding of how ordinary people live. • In a strange and ironic way, many Americans profited from the war.

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 …