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• cast iron
  cast iron

  noun

  an alloy of iron, carbon, and other elements, cast as a soft and strong, or as a hard and brittle, iron, depending on the mixture and methods of molding.
• cast-iron
  cast-iron

  adjective

  made of cast iron.

cast iron

¹ American  

noun

1. an alloy of iron, carbon, and other elements, cast as a soft and strong, or as a hard and brittle, iron, depending on the mixture and methods of molding.

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cast-iron ² American  

[kast-ahy-ern, kahst-] / ˈkæstˈaɪ ərn, ˈkɑst- /

adjective

1. made of cast iron.

2. not subject to change or exception.

   a cast-iron rule.

3. hardy.

   a cast-iron stomach.

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cast iron British  

noun

1. iron containing so much carbon (1.7 to 4.5 per cent) that it cannot be wrought and must be cast into shape

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adjective

1. made of cast iron

2. rigid, strong, or unyielding

   a cast-iron decision

Etymology

Origin of cast iron¹

1655–65; cast (past participle of cast ( def. ) ) + iron

Origin of cast-iron²

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

Laura Cherkas gives Aurora Sanchez a cast iron pan.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

I’ve come to think of cast iron as the fastest way to build depth on a weeknight.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

The snake and cast iron plant can also tolerate darker areas in your home.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2026

Pros like Cincinnati-based chef Jose Salazar told me they favor carbon-steel pans because they’re virtually indestructible, relatively affordable and about half the weight of cast iron, so they heat up faster and sear well.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

The long list of its major technological firsts includes cast iron, the compass, gunpowder, paper, printing, and many others mentioned earlier.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond