caliber
noun
cal·i·ber
ˈka-lə-bər 
British also kə-ˈlē-
variants
or calibre
1
a
: degree of mental capacity or moral quality
teachers of high caliber
b
: degree of excellence or importance
the caliber of instruction
2
a
: the diameter of a bullet or other projectile
b
: the diameter of a bore of a gun usually expressed in hundredths or thousandths of an inch and typically written as a decimal fraction
.32 caliber
3
: the diameter of a round or cylindrical body
especially
: the internal diameter of a hollow cylinder
Examples of caliber in a Sentence
I was impressed by the high caliber of the team's work.
musicians of the highest caliber perform at that concert hall
Recent Examples on the Web
The law prohibits the sale, manufacture, possession and purchase of assault-style weapons, assault weapon attachments and .50 caliber cartridges in the state of Illinois.
—
John Bacon, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
The new movement, caliber 7138, does something few other perpetual calendars do – and which Audemars Piguet has never done before.
—Carol Besler, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Not long ago, parting ways with this Hall of Fame caliber player was inconceivable.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2025
Robert Morris owns the Smith & Wesson M&P .40 caliber gun, police said.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caliber
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John Bacon, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
The new movement, caliber 7138, does something few other perpetual calendars do – and which Audemars Piguet has never done before.
—Carol Besler, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Not long ago, parting ways with this Hall of Fame caliber player was inconceivable.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2025
Robert Morris owns the Smith & Wesson M&P .40 caliber gun, police said.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caliber
Cite this Entry
“Caliber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caliber. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
caliber
noun
cal·i·ber
variants
or calibre
1
: degree of excellence or importance
2
: the diameter of a missile (as a bullet)
3
: the inside diameter of a gun barrel
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