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

Jose Altuve On the other end of the career trajectory sits Altuve, who at 34 might need only one more All-Star caliber season to punch his ticket to the Hall of Fame. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

It is powered by exclusive Longines caliber L888.5, an automatic movement with a power reserve of up to 72 hours. —Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

This dynamic duo has led the firm to work on high-profile projects such as the creation of Wahlburgers as well as work with a long list of celebrity chefs, including Gordon Ramsay; a portfolio that speaks to the caliber of their clientele. —Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025

Gabriel Torres, 37, 10400 block of Interlochen Drive, Palos Hills, was arrested and accused of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon during a Jan. 3 crash investigation in the 1000 block of Roberts Road after officers recovered a 9 mm handgun and a .380 caliber handgun, police said. —Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 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

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