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
Synonyms
Examples of cast-iron in a Sentence
Noun
The fence is made of cast iron.
Recent Examples on the WebSandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Heat a nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium-high and add the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil.
—Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Melt 1½ teaspoons of the butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Apart from the best way to cook rice, nothing gets cooking-science types more riled up than cast-iron pans.
—Julia Moskin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Its swooping curves and cantilevered body wraps around a crimson red cast-iron plate that holds 21 tons of string tension.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Several feature the original 1930 black and white mosaic tile and six-foot cast-iron tubs.
—The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
Get The Recipe 35 of 40 Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
Pull out your cast-iron skillet for this quintessential Southern dish.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high, about 5 minutes.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2024
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024
For more information and to purchase your own Dolly Parton cast iron, visit lodgecastiron.com/dolly-parton.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2024
As is the case with most cast iron cookware, care can be a bit daunting.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Like the French brand’s signature cast iron cookware, this domed baker ensures proper heat distribution for the perfect crust, even color and delicious flavor.
—Paula Lee, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2024
Add this top-selling cast iron skillet to your repertoire to turn sad, pale meals into perfect seared, crispy, and piping hot masterpieces.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
That’s why ceramic cookware is typically considered to be not as long-lasting as stainless steel and cast iron cookware.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024
The home has five bedrooms and 4 ½ bathrooms, wide plank oak floors, a primary wing with an office and a bonus room, bathrooms with marble tile, a cast iron range, a marble kitchen island and permitted plans for a casita.
—Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2024
For a warm side, heat a cast iron and char some radicchio, which boast a bitter flavor that turns a bit sweet when cooked.
—Sunset Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Instead use cast-iron, stainless steel, glass or enamel products.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Heat a nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium-high and add the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil.
—Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Melt 1½ teaspoons of the butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Apart from the best way to cook rice, nothing gets cooking-science types more riled up than cast-iron pans.
—Julia Moskin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Its swooping curves and cantilevered body wraps around a crimson red cast-iron plate that holds 21 tons of string tension.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Several feature the original 1930 black and white mosaic tile and six-foot cast-iron tubs.
—The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
Get The Recipe 35 of 40 Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
Pull out your cast-iron skillet for this quintessential Southern dish.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high, about 5 minutes.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2024
Noun
Of the seven bathrooms in the home, five have cast iron roll top baths with marble vanity units.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024
For more information and to purchase your own Dolly Parton cast iron, visit lodgecastiron.com/dolly-parton.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2024
As is the case with most cast iron cookware, care can be a bit daunting.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Like the French brand’s signature cast iron cookware, this domed baker ensures proper heat distribution for the perfect crust, even color and delicious flavor.
—Paula Lee, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2024
Add this top-selling cast iron skillet to your repertoire to turn sad, pale meals into perfect seared, crispy, and piping hot masterpieces.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
That’s why ceramic cookware is typically considered to be not as long-lasting as stainless steel and cast iron cookware.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024
The home has five bedrooms and 4 ½ bathrooms, wide plank oak floors, a primary wing with an office and a bonus room, bathrooms with marble tile, a cast iron range, a marble kitchen island and permitted plans for a casita.
—Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2024
For a warm side, heat a cast iron and char some radicchio, which boast a bitter flavor that turns a bit sweet when cooked.
—Sunset Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cast-iron.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near cast-iron
Cite this Entry
“Cast-iron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cast-iron. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
cast iron
noun
: a hard brittle alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon shaped by being poured into a mold while melted
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