Ironically means in the opposite way to what you would expect. Ironically, it worked, said ironically, ironically enough.
As a sentence adverb it flags an outcome that reverses the expectation — ironically, the safety measure caused the accident. It is also used for saying something while meaning the opposite. The complaint that it is misused for mere coincidence is a real one and mostly lost. Note irony; and that the Greek eironeia means dissembling.
1adverbironicallyIn the opposite way to what you would expect.
“Ironically, the weather was perfect on the one day we stayed indoors.”
2adverbmeaningWhile meaning the opposite.
“"Lovely weather," he said ironically, as the rain poured down.”
ironically is a manner of reversal.
Ancient Greek
εἰρωνικός
Latin
īrōnicus
English
ironic
English, today
ironically
From ironic + -ally. ironic Latin īrōnicus, from Ancient Greek εἰρωνικός. Compare Middle French -, ironique, equivalent to irony + ic.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA