Quote:
Originally Posted by Alphavictim
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning: the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.
|
It can also mean:
(1) : an incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result.
(2) : an event or result marked by such incongruity.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irony
Thus, irony can be rooted in either sarcasm or cognitive dissonance.