# ironman

> English word · Noun · frequency rank #23,317

## Definitions
1. An extremely tough and strong athlete, especially one who competes in extreme athletic competitions or in a large number of games consecutively.
2. A form of surf lifesaving competition which combines swimming, board paddling, ski paddling and running.
3. An extreme form of triathlon, expecially one organised by the World Triathlon Corporation that comprises a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike race and a marathon run.
4. The winner of such a lifesaving event or triathlon.

## Etymology
From iron + man. First applied to Joe McGinnity, a baseball player who pitched 48 complete games in one season and worked in an iron foundry during the offseason.

## Easily confused with
- **Inman** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inman-vs-ironman)
- **Ionian** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ionian-vs-ironman)
- **Iranian** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/iranian-vs-ironman)

## Common misspellings (10)
`iornman`, `irnoman`, `iromnan`, `ironamn`, `ironmann`, `ironmman`, `ironmna`, `ironnman`, `irronman`, `rionman`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ironman