Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for "calibre"

calibre

British  
/ ˈkælɪbə /

noun

  1. the diameter of a cylindrical body, esp the internal diameter of a tube or the bore of a firearm

  2. the diameter of a shell or bullet

  3. ability; distinction

    a musician of high calibre

  4. personal character

    a man of high calibre

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of calibre

C16: from Old French, from Italian calibro, from Arabic qālib shoemaker's last, mould

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Co, the police spokesman, also revealed the other weapon used in the shooting, a .38 calibre pistol, was registered to a security agency in Cebu City.

From Barron's Jun. 22, 2026

When asked about Klopp in an interview with The Athletic last month, Riquelme said: "Naturally, I would love for profiles of that calibre, and others like them, to coach this club."

From BBC Jun. 4, 2026

Prenga's previous three contests have all ended in first-round stoppages, but he has never faced anyone close to Joshua's calibre and remains largely unknown, even among boxing's most avid followers.

From BBC Jun. 1, 2026

He said the pair decided to write a song after attending a poetry reading together, praising the musician for being of the "highest calibre".

From BBC Mar. 4, 2026

I first got an idea of its calibre when I heard him preach in his own church at Morton.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training