dramatic irony

dramatic irony Word Origin noun

1. irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play.

Origin of dramatic irony First recorded in 1905–10 British Dictionary definitions for dramatic irony dramatic irony noun

1. theatre the irony occurring when the implications of a situation, speech, etc, are understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play