cast-iron

1 of 2

adjective

ˈkast-ˈī(-ə)rn 

1

: made of cast iron

2

: resembling cast iron: such as

a

: capable of withstanding great strain

a cast-iron stomach

b

: not admitting change, adaptation, or exception : rigid

a cast-iron will

c

British : not likely to fail or be broken : airtight

"Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform … gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?"

—J. K. Rowling

cast iron

2 of 2

noun

: a commercial alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon that is cast in a mold and is hard, brittle, nonmalleable, and incapable of being hammer-welded but more easily fusible than steel

Synonyms

Adjective

• strict
• rigorous
• rigid

Examples of cast-iron in a Sentence

Adjective

lost weight only after a cast-iron adherence to his diet

he has a cast-iron faith in his innate ability to overcome any adversity that life might throw against him

Noun

The fence is made of cast iron.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Strolling through downtown Leeds reveals a patchwork of eras, from the cast-iron and mosaic elegance of the Victoria Quarter to the soaring glass canopy of Trinity Leeds. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

All were 12-cup muffin pans, except for Le Creuset’s six-cup cast-iron model. —Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 June 2025

Noun

Serve with corn chips for the ultimate Southern party dip. Directions Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat and add onions, cooking until tender, 1-2 minutes. —Mary Claire Britton, Southern Living, 30 June 2025

This chicken dinner idea checks several of the essential boxes for cowboy cooking: a cast iron skillet, plenty of Southwestern flavor, and a cheesy topping. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cast-iron

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• chitosan
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon

Kids Definition

cast iron

noun

: a hard brittle alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon shaped by being poured into a mold while melted