In colloquial English, an "Iron Fist" refers to the authority exerted by a powerful, unforgiving

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is typically defined as the process of concluding resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offense, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution. The Oxford English Dictionary defines forgiveness as 'to grant free pardon and to give up all...

 governing figure

Government

Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...

, extended variously to public or private life, used to describe a person who operates under strictly authoritarian principles. Ex. "Josef Stalin ruled the USSR with an iron fist", or "The pater familias

Pater familias

The pater familias, also written as paterfamilias was the head of a Roman family. The term is Latin for "father of the family" or the "owner of the family estate". The form is irregular and archaic in Latin, preserving the old genitive ending in -as...

rules his family with an iron fist." Cf. "Under the boot", "Iron rod".

Iron Fist may also refer to:

• Iron Fist (comics), a Marvel Comics superhero/martial artist
• Iron Fist (novel)
  Iron Fist (novel)
  Iron Fist is a novel set in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. It is the sixth novel in the Star Wars: X-wing series, and was written by Aaron Allston. It continues the exploits of Wraith Squadron begun by Allston in Wraith Squadron.-Plot:...
  
  , a 1998 Star Wars novel by Aaron Allston
• Tekken (series) (鉄拳, lit. Iron Fist), a series of fighting games by Namco
• 20th Armoured Brigade (The Iron Fist), nickname of British Army armoured formation based in Paderborn, Germany
• Iron Fist (countermeasure), an Israeli counter-weapon system
• Iron Fists, a chapter of Space Marines in the Warhammer 40,000
  Warhammer 40,000
  Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop, set in a dystopian science fantasy universe. Warhammer 40,000 was created by Rick Priestley in 1987 as the futuristic companion to Warhammer Fantasy Battle, sharing many game mechanics...
  
   universe
• Ironfist (Transformers), a character in the Transformers series
• The Man with the Iron Fist
  The Man with the Iron Fist
  The Man with the Iron Fists is an upcoming action martial arts film directed by RZA and starring Russell Crowe, RZA, Dave Batista, Rick Yune, Pam Grier and Lucy Liu.-Plot:...
  
  , an upcoming film starring Russell Crowe

In music:

• Iron Fist (album)
  Iron Fist (album)
  Iron Fist is the fifth album by the British band Motörhead. Released on 17 April 1982, it peaked at #6 on the UK album charts. It was preceded by the release of the title track "Iron Fist" as a single on 3 April, which peaked in the UK singles chart at #29...
  
  , a 1982 album by metal band Motörhead
  • "Iron Fist" (song)
    Iron Fist (song)
    "Iron Fist" is a song by the heavy metal band Motörhead. It was released as a single in 1982, in 7" pressings in blue, black and translucent red vinyl....
    
    , a single from the album
• Iron Fist, a progenitor of the band Helloween
  Helloween
  Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
  
  
• "Iron Fist", a song from Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
  Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
  Die Apokalyptischen Reiter is a Weimar, Germany based heavy metal band signed to Nuclear Blast in Europe and The End Records in North America...
  
  's debut album Soft & Stronger
• "Iron Fist", a song from Goldfinger
  Goldfinger (band)
  Goldfinger is a Los Angeles pop punk/ska punk band that formed in 1994. Currently, the band is composed of vocalist/guitarist John Feldmann, guitarist Charlie Paulson, bassist Kelly LeMieux, and drummer Darrin Pfeiffer...
  
  's album Disconnection Notice
  Disconnection Notice
  -Personnel:*John Feldmann – rhythm guitar, lead vocals* Brian Arthur – lead guitar*Kelly LeMieux – bass*Darrin Pfeiffer – drums- Notes :Track No. 1, "My Everything", was featured on the soundtrack of the video game SSX on Tour....
  
  

In sports:

• Dr. Ironfist
  Vitali Klitschko
  Vitaliy Volodymyrovych Klychko is a Ukrainian professional heavyweight boxer and the current WBC heavyweight champion. He is a leader of the political party Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform and a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the Congress of the Council of Europe. He previously...
  
  , the Ukrainian heavyweight boxer and Ph.D., Vitali Klitschko (a.k.a. Dr. Eisenfaust)