dramatic irony

noun

A theatrical effect in which the true meaning of a situation, or some incongruity in the plot, is understood by the audience, but not by the characters in the play.

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Meanings

noundramatic irony (countable and uncountable, plural dramatic ironies)

plural dramatic ironies

  1. countableuncountableA theatrical effect in which the true meaning of a situation, or some incongruity in the plot, is understood by the audience, but not by the characters in the play.

Translations

Polish ironia dramatyczna
  • ironia dramatycznatheatrical effect
Cite this entry
APA

dramatic irony. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dramatic%20irony

MLA

“dramatic irony.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dramatic%20irony. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dramatic irony,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dramatic%20irony.

Source: dramatic irony on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.