English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj

ironclad

adj
1
So solid or certain that it cannot reasonably be disputed or broken.
"The contract came with an ironclad guarantee."
"She had an ironclad alibi for the night of the robbery."
noun
1
Historically, a warship protected by iron or steel armor plating.
"The battle between two ironclads changed naval warfare forever."

How to Use Ironclad

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishExtremely solid and dependable — used mostly for agreements, alibis, or guarantees today.

Common pairings
ironclad contract ironclad alibi ironclad guarantee

Word Forms

more ironclad comparative, ironclads plural, most ironclad superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “ironclad” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The contract came with an _____ guarantee.

Etymology

From iron plus clad ("clothed, covered") — literally "covered in iron," originally describing armored warships.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial