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The discrepancy between reality (what happens) and perspective on reality (what you though should happen.)

What the perfect example of irony? Read Candide by Voltaire.
by someenglishstudent January 17, 2006
One of the most misused words in the entire English language.

There are several types of irony.

Socratic irony - When someone pretends to be naive about a certain subject, and uses his questions about it to point out a flaw in the established belief. This is often used on the TV show South Park, where the children often ask questions about a situation until the folly in a parent's decision becomes clear.

Sarcasm - Understatement, mocking overstatement, or heavy-handed irony (stating the flat opposite of the truth) where both parties are aware of the difference between what's said and what's actually happening.

Situational Irony - The irony that most people think of. A difference between what you expect to happen (in a story, for example) and what actually happens. Rain on your wedding day would be a sort-of example, because a wedding day is generally expected to be a perfect, happy day. The good advice you didn't take, however, would NOT be irony, because that has nothing to do with what is expected and what isn't expected. A traffic jam when you're already late wouldn't be irony either; there's no automatic expectation that traffic will be fine, just because you happen to be late.

Irony of Fate - The concept that the Gods, Fates, etc. are toying with humans for amusement by using irony. Beethoven's loss of hearing is a famous example; one would expect a composer to be able to hear his compositions, but fate denied him that ability.

Tragic (Dramatic) Irony - When the audience knows something that some of the characters don't know in a play/movie/novel/whatever. For example, when the horror flick psycho is in the house and the homeowner just goes in without suspecting anything.
So, yeah, Alanis was wrong in a lot of her song, but there ARE some examples of irony in there - and a few that are kinda-sorta, but could be better. The old man who buys a lottery ticket is one; it would be a better example if he won, and then died of a heart attack from the shock of winning.
by progamer124 December 16, 2004
of, resembling, relating to, or tasting much like iron
"The anvil was delicious, but irony."

This definition of irony
by Chris H-C January 14, 2005
the opposite of what is intended happening or being presented.
A SUV with a bumper sticker that says keep earth green.
by king kong NINJA April 20, 2004
America "Bombing for Peace"
Moronic propaganda is nothing but ironic.
by LORD HELL FEAR BLOOD March 16, 2003
NOTHING in the Alanis Morissette song "Ironic".
A black fly in your Chardonnay? How is that, Alanis? And isn't it moronic... don't ya think?

It's ironic that the song "Ironic" contains no irony.
by Madmann October 04, 2005
Wearing a Che Guevara print t-shirt or similar merchandise produced by a multinational corperation.
Guy 1: Hey isnt that che guevara?
Guy 2: Yeah he was totally awesome and against capitalism and shit which is so cool an im like him.
Guy 1: ....and you dont see the conflict, the irony, in wearing a t-shirt produced by a huge corperation dead set on money making that has the face of one of the most famous communist revolutionaries to date on it?
Guy 2: Dude what?
by Greenchills January 22, 2008
A statement or situation where the meaning is directly contradicted by the appearance/presentation of the idea.
An American Flag Bumper Sticker with the words "These Colors Don't Run" that has faded and run together to the point of near incomprehensibility.
by Depakote June 09, 2003