I used this word on a recent post and I got to thinking. What is irony? I'm thinking I got the gist of it in my post but do I really?

It is a word that is often used in place of paradox or absurd and is tossed around with such ease that the meaning is completely lost.

I am familiar with it as a literary term but have never really grapsed its essence.

I've already found so many here that have an exquisite way of expressing thoughts with depth and clarity so why go anywhere else?