ironically
/ʌɪˈrɒnɪkli/
CommonUsed to signal that what follows is a joke, a bit, or deliberately not serious.
The line between ironic and genuine often collapses on the internet. Saying something 'ironically' long enough sometimes becomes the real position, which people joke about too.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | We ironically started listening to that song so much it became our thing. | Something that started as a joke became genuinely real. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | I ironically bought the shirt and then wore it every week. | Admitting that an ironic purchase turned into genuine use. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | Ironically, the person who said they hated drama started all of it. | Pointing out a contradiction between what someone said and what they did. | x, 2024 |
| 04 | Ironically enjoying bad movies is still enjoying bad movies. | Pointing out that the framing of irony doesn't change the behavior. | reddit, 2023 |
Use it when
- You are doing or saying something as a joke and want to make sure people know.
- You enjoy something but want plausible deniability about whether you're serious.
- You are pointing out a funny contradiction in a situation.
Do not use it when
- You actually mean what you're saying.Use “unironically” instead.
- You are using it as a crutch to avoid committing to an opinion.
Ironically vs unironically
ironically
Signals detachment or that the statement is a joke.
VS
unironically
Signals full sincerity even when the statement sounds like a joke.
Origin and context
Standard English word that took on a more deliberate, self-signaling function in internet culture as irony became the dominant register.
- First seen
- pre-2010
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/ironicallyUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0