ironic

See also: irònic

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin īrōnicus, from Ancient Greek εἰρωνικός (eirōnikós). Compare Middle French, ironique, equivalent to irony +‎ -ic.

Pronunciation

Adjective

ironic (comparative more ironic, superlative most ironic)

  1. (of a situation) Characterized by or constituting (any kind of) irony.
    It's somewhat ironic to have a wave of smog right on Earth Day.
    • 2014, Steven Pinker, The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century!, page 275:
      It was ironic I forgot my textbook on human memory.
    • 2009 October 29, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Mr Stink, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:
      Chloe had once seen a real-life goth hanging around by a garbage bin in the high street and become incredibly excited. She really wanted to go over and ask her how to get started in the goth world, but she was too shy. Which was ironic, since shyness is something you need if you want to be a successful goth.
    1. (proscribed) Odd or coincidental; strange.
      It's ironic that we are eating a sandwich in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
  2. (preceded with "being") Acting in an unserious and teasing manner.
    Don't take it personally. We're just being ironic.
  3. (of a statement, action, etc.) Done in an insincere and mocking manner; satirical.
    You should assume that everything this guy posts is ironic.
    • 2019 December 31, AJ Willingham, “All the trends we loved and hated in the 2010s”, in CNN[1]:
      Here’s a tip: If a group of people start using something as ironic hate speech, it will eventually be used for unironic hate speech. Don’t act surprised.

Usage notes

Some writers complain about an overuse of the word ironic to extend to situations which are remarkable for reasons other than irony - perhaps just coincidental or merely odd.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Anagrams

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French ironique, from Late Latin īrōnicus, from Ancient Greek εἰρωνικός (eirōnikós). By surface analysis, ironie +‎ -ic.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [iˈro.nik]

Adjective

ironic m or n (feminine singular ironică, masculine plural ironici, feminine and neuter plural ironice)

  1. ironic

Declension

Declension of ironic
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative-
accusative
indefinite ironic ironică ironici ironice
definite ironicul ironica ironicii ironicele
genitive-
dative
indefinite ironic ironice ironici ironice
definite ironicului ironicei ironicilor ironicelor