iron·clad
ˈī(-ə)rn-ˈklad 
1
: sheathed in iron armor
—used especially of naval vessels
2
: so firm or secure as to be unbreakable: such as
a
: binding
an ironclad oath
b
: having no obvious weakness
an ironclad case against the defendant
iron·clad
ˈī(-ə)rn-ˌklad
: an armored naval vessel especially of the mid to late 19th century
Examples of ironclad in a Sentence
Adjective
The company has an ironclad policy against revealing secrets to competitors.
He has an ironclad alibi.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Zelensky has rejected the idea of pulling forces from Donetsk, while signalling an openness to freezing the frontlines, effectively ceding parts of the country to indefinite Russian control – but only if Ukraine receives ironclad security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 28 Aug. 2025
Rebecca Bihn-Wallace, Vogue, 20 Aug. 2025
Further, tech tends to get hit hard during bear markets, despite it including the biggest firms and their ironclad, fortress-like balance sheets.
—Bret Kenwell, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ironclad
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Adjective
Nope, that’s not ironclad as a guarantee.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Zelensky has rejected the idea of pulling forces from Donetsk, while signalling an openness to freezing the frontlines, effectively ceding parts of the country to indefinite Russian control – but only if Ukraine receives ironclad security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
The result is at once humorous and tragic: a recollection of Gardner’s soaring film career and troubled personal life, as well as a scorching indictment of the impossible constraints that actresses—burdened by moral policing and ironclad studio contracts—faced in mid-century Hollywood.
—Rebecca Bihn-Wallace, Vogue, 20 Aug. 2025
Further, tech tends to get hit hard during bear markets, despite it including the biggest firms and their ironclad, fortress-like balance sheets.
—Bret Kenwell, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ironclad
Cite this Entry
“Ironclad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ironclad. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ironclad
1 of 2 adjective
iron·clad
-ˈklad
1
: covered by iron armor
2
: rigorous sense 1, exacting
ironclad laws
ironclad
2 of 2 noun
iron·clad
-ˌklad
: an armored naval vessel
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