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

• quality

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 offensive line could ascend to playoff caliber by mid season or late season, or perhaps by the season opener. —Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2025

The 11th Bentonville Film Festival is underway in Arkansas, the annual event bringing together Oscar caliber talent and films, with an emphasis on inclusion in an industry not known for providing equal access to opportunity. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 June 2025

Holiday approached the victim from behind, wrapped his left arm around her neck and shot her in the right temple with a .40 caliber firearm — with their three small children in the apartment. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 17 June 2025

This selection of mountain lodgings of high caliber is unparalleled on the planet. —Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

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

Rhymes for caliber

• excalibur

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