caliber

noun

cal·​i·​ber ˈka-lə-bər 

 British also  kə-ˈlē-

variants or calibre

1

a

: degree of mental capacity or moral quality

teachers of high caliber

b

: degree of excellence or importance

the caliber of instruction

2

a

: the diameter of a bullet or other projectile

b

: the diameter of a bore of a gun usually expressed in hundredths or thousandths of an inch and typically written as a decimal fraction

.32 caliber

3

: the diameter of a round or cylindrical body

especially : the internal diameter of a hollow cylinder

Synonyms

• class
• grade
• quality
• rate

Examples of caliber in a Sentence

I was impressed by the high caliber of the team's work.

musicians of the highest caliber perform at that concert hall

Recent Examples on the Web

The chance to see two actors of this caliber at the top of their game will, rightly, sell tickets and win hearts. —David Benedict, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024

Cox searched what kind of caliber of bullet would penetrate the windshield of a Dodge Dakota, the car that Tammy Daybell was getting out of, along with other Google searches. —Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2024

Cameron confirms that both elk had been shot in the head with the .40 caliber handgun at close range. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 10 Apr. 2024

The Happy Sport contains the in-house automatic caliber 09.01-C. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024

So what does a truth-telling comic of his caliber do next? —Miriam Katz, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024

Powering the model is the brand’s caliber 2972 movement. —Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2024

At the scene, investigators collected three .25 caliber shell casings, a pair of sunglasses, beer bottles, Styrofoam cups and cigarette butts, according to the reports. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024

The case is white gold with a hinged back cover that opens to review the model’s signature caliber, 240, an ultra-thin automatic movement. —Carol Besler, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French calibre "internal diameter of a cylindrical object, displacement of a gun," borrowed (by uncertain mediation) from Arabic qālab, qālib "mold for casting metal, shoemaker's last," borrowed from Greek kalapod-, kalápous, kalópous "shoemaker's last," from kâla (plural) "wood, timber" (of uncertain origin) + -a- (perhaps after tetrápous "four-footed") or -o- -o- + poús "foot" — more at foot entry 1

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Kids Definition

caliber

noun

cal·​i·​ber

variants or calibre

ˈkal-ə-bər 

1

: degree of excellence or importance

2

: the diameter of a missile (as a bullet)

3

: the inside diameter of a gun barrel

Medical Definition

caliber

noun

cal·​i·​ber

variants or chiefly British calibre

ˈkal-ə-bər, British also kə-ˈlē-

: the diameter of a round or cylindrical body

especially : the internal diameter of a hollow cylinder