Meaning & use
situational irony
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Meanings
noununcountabletechnical
A situation in which what happens is the opposite of what was expected, often in a way that seems unfairly funny.
Grammar: Uncountable as a concept: this is situational irony. Countable as an example: several situational ironies.
Patterns
- an example of situational irony
- the situational irony of something
It is situational irony when a fire station burns down.
The novel's situational irony is that the thief is robbed on the way home.
A traffic cop getting a parking ticket is a classic case of situational irony.
noununcountabletechnical
A literary device in which a story's events turn out very different from what characters or readers expect.
Grammar: Used in literature class: the story relies on situational irony.
Patterns
- use situational irony
- rely on situational irony
In the story, situational irony arises when the doctor dies of an illness he has cured in others.
The author uses situational irony to make a point about pride.
Students were asked to find examples of situational irony in the play.
Common combinations
- an example of situational irony
- It's an example of situational irony that the lifeguard cannot swim.
- classic situational irony
- The fire station catching fire is classic situational irony.
- use situational irony
- The poet uses situational irony to show how plans can fail.
- a touch of situational irony
- There was a touch of situational irony in his speech about punctuality.
- situational irony and dramatic irony
- The class compared situational irony and dramatic irony.
Synonyms and how they differ
- irony of fate
- Irony of fate stresses that destiny seems to mock someone, whereas situational irony is a neutral literary label.
- paradox
- A paradox seems self-contradictory but may be true, and it is not always about events.
- twist
- A twist is any surprising turn in a story, and need not be the reverse of expectation.
- reversal
- Reversal means a sudden change to the opposite, without the sense of irony.
Word family
- irony noun
- a contrast between what is expected and what happens or is said
- ironic adjective
- involving irony
- ironically adverb
- in a way that is the opposite of what you expect
- situation noun
- the set of circumstances at a time
Commonly confused: situational irony or verbal irony? situational irony or dramatic irony?
situational irony vs verbal irony
Verbal irony is saying the opposite of what you mean, while situational irony is about events turning out opposite to expectation.
situational irony vs dramatic irony
Dramatic irony happens when the audience knows something that a character does not.
Practice
A marriage counselor who files for divorce is an example of ____.
Choose one answer.
Events turn out opposite to what you would expect, which is situational irony. Verbal irony needs a speaker saying the opposite of what is meant.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “situational irony”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.