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 ( see -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.

“Pieces like this deserve to be presented properly, and be in spaces that reflect the caliber of the clothing,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Artificial intelligence isn’t akin to the forced switch from film to digital projection; no one is demanding that filmmakers of Soderbergh’s caliber incorporate AI into their process.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

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

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

A 3-pointer, especially for a marksman of his caliber, is one of the highest-value attempts in the sport.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

"Humans no longer have any heroes to protect them. None of the caliber of the legends of old, like Gilgamesh."

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

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