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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

  • calibred adjective

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.

Great save from Zion Suzuki who tipped McTominay's effort on to the post, but a player of his calibre should not be missing chances like that.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 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

Newcastle will certainly have to tighten up, given the calibre of opposition they are due to face in the coming weeks.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

And after analysing exclusive images obtained by BBC News Persian of spent casings recovered from the streets, Kotlarski confirmed they were 7.62x39mm rounds - the specific calibre for Kalashnikov-type rifles.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 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