irony

1. (rhetoric) 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.Examples: "Irony, saying what it ne'er intends, Censures with praise, and speaks to foes as friends."; "A principal virtue of Rorty's recognition of both the lightminded and the serious side of irony is to urge us in that direction."countablerhetoricuncountable

2. (rhetoric) 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.Examples: "It is one of the ironies of capital cities that each acts as a symbol of its nation, and yet few are even remotely representative of it. London has always set itself apart from the rest of Britain — but political, economic and social trends are conspiring to drive that wedge deeper."countablerhetoric

3. (informal) Contradiction between circumstances and expectations; condition contrary to what might be expected.countableinformaluncountable