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

• brassbound
• exacting
• hard-line
• inflexible
• rigid
• rigorous
• strict
• stringent
• uncompromising

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

Set a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. —Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

The 127 is a rolling peek into Americans’ obsessions—Elvis here, cast-iron skillets there, Christmas everywhere. —Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024

Noun

Our Test Kitchen recommends using a 12-inch cast iron skillet for this chicken casserole recipe. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2024

The cast iron in a Dutch oven has excellent heat retention, and the enamel coating serves as a protective layer from rust and acidic foods without the need for a typical cast-iron seasoning layer. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cast iron

noun

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