caliber

American

[kal-uh-ber] / ˈkæl ə bər /

especially British, calibre

noun

the diameter of something of circular section, especially that of the inside of a tube.

a pipe of three-inch caliber.
Ordnance. the diameter of the bore of a gun taken as a unit of measurement.
degree of capacity or competence; ability.

a mathematician of high caliber.
degree of merit or excellence; quality.

the high moral caliber of the era.

Synonyms:

distinction, worth

Other Word Forms

calibered adjective

Etymology

Origin of caliber

1560–70; variant of calibre < Middle French ≪ Arabic qālib mold, last < Greek kālápous shoe last, equivalent to kāla- combining form of kâlon wood + poús foot ( -pod )

Explanation

Caliber is a kind of measurement that can describe either the level of a person’s ability or the diameter of a gun barrel. Your dad might be a high-caliber marksman, especially when using his .22 caliber rifle. Caliber describes the level of ability a person has achieved in a profession. For example, you probably wouldn't want to hire a low-caliber plumber when the toilet breaks. The caliber of an institution or a program describes the height of its standards. You might be planning to attend the high-caliber veterinary program at your state university. Caliber is also the measurement of the width inside a gun barrel, and its corresponding bullets.

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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.

"Same caliber, all the same type of cartridges," he explained, but one is banned while the other is not.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The film itself, however, doesn’t come close to matching the caliber of its talent, who frequently fail to elevate the movie’s treacly after-school-special script.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2026

In one house, two dozen .50 caliber shells were scattered on a terrace.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

“Grand and lavish, this limestone townhouse, on a highly coveted block known for its magnificent residences, is truly unparalleled,” it stated, noting that the property was “designed for luxurious living and the highest caliber entertaining.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

Such wonders you have never seen, ladies and gentlemen, acts and performers gathered from the four corners of the earth to delight and entertain you, acrobats, and tumblers, and aerialists of the highest caliber....

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023