What this suffix does
-clad means "dressed in" or "covered in": ivy-clad, snow-clad, ironclad (literally armored).
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Suffix · forms adjectives
-clad
Means "dressed in" or "covered with": ivy-clad (covered in ivy) and ironclad (armor-plated; also "foolproof").
In Spanish: cubierto de / revestido de / vestido deIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
"ironclad" is also figurative
"an ironclad agreement/alibi" = an agreement or alibi that is airtight, foolproof. This is the most common figurative use of -clad today.
How it is formed
Noun (material or substance) + clad.
- ivy + cladivy-clad (covered in ivy)
- iron + cladironclad (armor-plated; foolproof)
- snow + cladsnow-clad (covered in snow)
This is not a productive rule you can apply freely: it is a closed set of fixed expressions. Learn them one by one as set phrases.
How it is pronounced
-clad
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -clad
In a phrase
- ivyivy-cladThe ivy-clad walls made the old house look like something from a fairy tale.
- ironironcladWe need an ironclad agreement before we sign anything.
- snowsnow-cladThe snow-clad mountains looked beautiful in the morning light.
- armourarmour-cladThe armour-clad knight rode into the castle.
- scantilyscantily cladIt was too cold outside to be scantily clad like that.
Common mistakes
-clad is interchangeable with -covered
-clad is more literary and poetic than -covered
"-covered" is neutral and factual ("snow-covered mountains"). "-clad" carries a much stronger literary charge — it evokes clothing, protection, and encasement in a way that feels deliberate and even solemn. "Snow-clad" suggests the mountains are wearing their snow as a garment; "snow-covered" simply describes a surface. Use -clad when you want the poetic, literary register; use -covered for neutral description.
ironclad = made of iron
ironclad (figurative) = so firm and complete that nothing can break through it
"Ironclad" in figurative use does not mean "made of iron." It means so firm, complete, and invulnerable to challenge that it resembles iron armour. An "ironclad agreement" cannot be broken; an "ironclad alibi" cannot be disproved; an "ironclad case" cannot be defeated in court. The iron is metaphorical: it describes invulnerability to attack or revision.
A trick to remember it
"Clad" comes from "clothe". Picture snow as a coat a mountain puts on: snow-CLAD = the mountain is "dressed" in snow. Ivy "dresses" a building the same way in ivy-clad.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"The ironclad alibi meant no charge could possibly stand." What does "ironclad" mean here?
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -clad mean in English?
The suffix -clad means "dressed in" or "covered with": ivy-clad (covered in ivy) and ironclad (armor-plated; also "foolproof"). In Spanish it usually maps to cubierto de / revestido de / vestido de.
Can you give an example of a word with -clad?
"ivy" becomes "ivy-clad". It is a typical example of the -clad suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-laden
Means "loaded with": snow-laden (loaded with snow) and guilt-laden (weighed down by guilt).
-ridden
Forms adjectives describing something persistently dominated or plagued by something negative: guilt-ridden, debt-ridden, crime-ridden, anxiety-ridden, corruption-ridden.
-worn
Describes something worn down by time or use: timeworn (worn by time) and careworn (worn out by worry).
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