flat iron

noun

1
: a device used for straightening hair by pressing and pulling sections between two heated metal or ceramic, flat, rectangular plates
2
usually flatiron
ˈflat-ˌī(-ə)rn How to pronounce flat iron (audio)
old-fashioned : iron sense 2a

Examples of flat iron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Avoid your flat iron, hair dryer and curling iron as much as possible. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 20 May 2026 They’re joined by rotating specials such as bone-in pork belly ribs and smoked flat iron steak carved into rosy pink slices. — Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026 This one from the tried-and-true brand, Chi, is a good option for shoppers who want a no-frills flat iron that gets hot, presses away frizz, and boosts shine. — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 26 June 2026 My dinner on the first night was another happy surprise — a fairly tender and flavorful flat iron steak. — Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flat iron

Word History

First Known Use

1743, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of flat iron was in 1743

Rhymes for flat iron

See All Rhymes for flat iron

Browse Nearby Words

flat hoop
flat iron
flatite
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flat iron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flat%20iron. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All