ironclad
Americanadjective
-
covered or cased with iron plates, as a ship for naval warfare; armor-plated.
-
very rigid or exacting; inflexible; unbreakable.
an ironclad contract.
noun
-
ironclads
plural
adjective
-
covered or protected with iron
an ironclad warship
-
inflexible; rigid
an ironclad rule
-
not able to be assailed or contradicted
an ironclad argument
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of ironclad
Explanation
Something ironclad is either covered in iron for protection or protected in a different way. An ironclad guarantee can’t be broken or taken back. Originally, this word was very literal: an ironclad battleship was clad (covered) in iron. Since then, this word is more metaphorical, though it still applies to things you can trust. An ironclad contract is unbreakable. An ironclad promise can be believed wholeheartedly. If you were arrested on ironclad charges, you’re going to be found guilty.
Vocabulary lists containing ironclad
The American Civil War
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
President Trump's First State of The Union Address (2018)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Courage to Soar
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But don’t worry: We have an ironclad prenup.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
But experts have worried that doctors are hesitating to offer treatment without an ironclad diagnosis, which clinicians say can take time and increase risks to the mother.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
It remains to be seen how ironclad those deals really are, as the chip industry’s past experiences with supply agreements haven’t always stuck.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Islamabad also has a defence agreement with regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia and "ironclad" ties with China, Iran's top trading partner.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
His look was one of conviction, of guileless yet ironclad earnestness.
From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
These days, substitute nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic bombers, aircraft carriers, and similar "modern" weapons for the ironclads of his era and the sentiment rings at least as true as it did then.
From Salon ● Mar. 22, 2023
He also corresponded with French shipyards on the design of Confederate ironclads.
From Science Magazine ● Sep. 2, 2021
"A lot of these ironclads are built by house carpenters, they're not built by shipwrights," said Jeff Seymour, historian and curator for the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus.
From US News ● Aug. 16, 2015
On March 8 and 9, 1862, the Battle of Hampton Roads pitted the Union’s Monitor against the Confederate ironclad Virginia, the first battle between ironclads.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 1, 2015
Mebby I oughtnt say we took it becus it was the ironclads that done it.
From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
