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Calvin

American  
[kal-vin] / ˈkæl vɪn /

noun

  1. John Jean Chauvin or Caulvin, 1509–64, French theologian and reformer in Switzerland: leader in the Protestant Reformation.

  2. Melvin, 1911–97, U.S. chemist: Nobel Prize 1961.

  3. a male given name: from a Latin word meaning “bald.”


Calvin British  
/ ˈkælvɪn /

noun

  1. John, original name Jean Cauvin, Caulvin, or Chauvin. 1509–64, French theologian: a leader of the Protestant Reformation in France and Switzerland, establishing the first presbyterian government in Geneva. His theological system is described in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536)

  2. Melvin. 1911–97, US chemist, noted particularly for his research on photosynthesis: Nobel prize for chemistry 1961

"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

Calvin Scientific  
/ kălvĭn /
  1. American chemist who won a Nobel Prize in 1961 for determining the chemical reactions that occur during photosynthesis. This series of reactions is now known as the Calvin cycle.


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:

Presley Gerber worked as a model, including in 2018, at age 18, as the face of Calvin Klein Jeans’ global advertising campaign, along with his sister, Kaia Gerber.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 22, 2026

Scottish DJ Calvin Harris has been celebrating writing his name into the record books after performing for an estimated 1.6m people in Sao Paulo earlier this year.

From BBC Sep. 21, 2026

Within minutes, his message was shared by Calvin, Kokotajlo and other AI safety advocates, including many of his former colleagues.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 17, 2026

Not far from the cafe where Osborn met with voters, Calvin Pemberton owns a Trump souvenir shop next to his car detailing business, where he sells flags, t-shirts and hats with the Republican president's likeness.

From Barron's Sep. 11, 2026

“Zoe would never treat you badly. She’s one of the most caring and loving people I know. If by some tiny chance she did, why would Calvin leave Alex with her?”

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

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