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
J. K. Rowling
: 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
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
Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 11 Nov. 2025
Press dough evenly into a 12-inch cast-iron skillet.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Nov. 2025
Time, 6 Nov. 2025
No doubt many grandmothers will want to scold us, but the truth is, soap isn't going to destroy your cast iron pans.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cast-iron
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Best Simple Menorah Originally designed for Areaware, Josh Owen’s solid cast-iron menorah became an instant classic for those in search of a modern menorah.
—Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 11 Nov. 2025
Press dough evenly into a 12-inch cast-iron skillet.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
With each pot, cast iron skillet, and cooking utensil, Gilmore exemplified this longstanding tradition in Black life, negotiating her identity in America and resisting the ills of racial segregation that pervaded nearly every aspect of her community.
—Time, 6 Nov. 2025
No doubt many grandmothers will want to scold us, but the truth is, soap isn't going to destroy your cast iron pans.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cast-iron
Cite this Entry
“Cast-iron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cast-iron. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share