# irony

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈaɪə.ɹən.i/ · frequency rank #8,805

## Definitions
1. The quality of a statement that, when taken in context, may actually mean something different from, or the opposite of, what is written literally; the use of words expressing something other than their literal intention, often in a humorous context.
2. The quality of a statement that, when taken in context, may actually mean something different from, or the opposite of, what is written literally; the use of words expressing something other than their literal intention, often in a humorous context.
3. Dramatic irony: a theatrical effect in which the meaning of a situation, or some incongruity in the plot, is understood by the audience, but not by the characters in the play.
4. Socratic irony: ignorance feigned for the purpose of confounding or provoking an antagonist.
5. Contradiction between circumstances and expectations; condition contrary to what might be expected.

## Etymology
First attested in 1502. From Middle French ironie, from Old French, from Latin īrōnīa, from Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία (eirōneía, “irony, pretext”), from εἴρων (eírōn, “one who feigns ignorance”).

## Easily confused with
- **ivory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/irony-vs-ivory)
- **ion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ion-vs-irony)
- **iron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/iron-vs-irony)
- **Iran** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/iran-vs-irony)
- **icon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/icon-vs-irony)
- **Ions** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ions-vs-irony)
- **Iona** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/iona-vs-irony)
- **Irene** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/irene-vs-irony)
- **irons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/irons-vs-irony)
- **Irina** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/irina-vs-irony)
- **ironic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ironic-vs-irony)
- **ironed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ironed-vs-irony)

## Common misspellings (7)
`iorny`, `irnoy`, `ironny`, `ironyy`, `iroyn`, `irrony`, `riony`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/irony