what is irony?

Question

i know it sounds dumb but ive heard so many different definitions of irony

Answer 1

go with the dictionary definition

·ro·ny audio (r-n, r-) KEY

NOUN:
pl. i·ro·nies

1.
1. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.
2. An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning.
3. A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect. See Synonyms at wit 1.
2.
1. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs: "Hyde noted the irony of Ireland's copying the nation she most hated" (Richard Kain).
2. An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity. See Usage Note at ironic.
3. Dramatic irony.
4. Socratic irony.

ETYMOLOGY:
French ironie, from Old French, from Latin rna, from Greek eirneia, feigned ignorance, from eirn, dissembler, probably from eirein, to say; see wer- 5 in Indo-European roots

Answer 2

Curse you, Alanis!
(None of the examples in her song are ironic -- they're unfortunate, they're unpleasant, and some of them are unusual, but none of them are ironic.)

Irony is an incongruity that is somehow very fitting; the mismatch is apt because of the way that it's not right.

A good example of irony is O. Henry's short story, "The Gift of the Magi": It's Christmastime, and a husband and wife lack money to buy gifts they deem important enough to show how much they love each other. Each of them, unknown to the other, sells the object he/she cares about most, to raise the money to buy a gift for the other. The surprise is that the gift he/she gives to her/him is useless without the object she/he sold to buy the other gift -- unpleasant irony. But a deeper reading says, in effect, that the selling and buying of material goods at Christmas is insignificant compared to the gifts of love and appreciation -- a pleasant irony.

The tragic mismatch of the husband's gift to the wife's sacrifice, and vice-versa, is irony. The sentimental mismatch of the material gift-giving and the true love expressed, is also irony. In both cases, there's a mismatch that serves to show a deeper aptness.

Answer 3

As anyone who has seen "Reality Bites" knows, irony is the incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs. "The American Heritage Dictionary" expands the definition to include "The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning." Realted to irony, sarcasm is a remark meant to wound or hurt the recipient. Facetiousness is the more playful, benign brand of sarcasm.

Answer 4

Irony=Subtle sarcasm of humor implying the opposite of what is expressed; sarcasm, satire, ridicule,raillery.

Answer 5

There is a good page on irony in Wikipedia, the free, online encyclopedia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony

Hope this helps!

Answer 6

See it is ironic that you have heard so many definitions but you do not know.

Irony is when instead of something happening something opposite happens.

Answer 7

think of that song by alanis morrisette. ironic is when something happens that is unexpected. that's my own definition of it.
"it's like rain on your wedding day; a free ride, when you've already paid; some good advice, that you just didn't take...."
just some exmaples

Answer 8

It means: Sarcasm or Ignoring

Answer 9

its like when something bad happens at the very worst moment it could possibly. You know that one song by Alanis Morissette?

Answer 10

its the ironic part of something... in other words: odd, awkward, weird, the unexpecting... etc...