Iron oxides are a group of minerals composed of Fe together with O and/or OH. They have high points of zero charge, making them positively charged over most soil pH ranges. Iron oxides also have relatively high surface areas and a high density of surface functional groups for ligand exchange reactions. In recent time, many studies have been undertaken on the use of iron oxides to remove harmful oxyanions such as chromate, arsenate, phosphate, and vanadate, etc., from aqueous solutions and contaminated waters via surface adsorption on the iron oxide surface structure. This review article provides an overview of synthesis methods, characterization, and sorption behaviours of different iron oxides with various oxyanions. The influence of thermodynamic and kinetic parameters on the adsorption process is appraised.