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
Though Provorov plays big minutes, the actual quality of those minutes is closer to second-pair caliber, with Provorov’s inability to drive play.
—
Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 31 July 2025
The Horned Frogs return two all-conference caliber linebackers and have a young up and coming linebacker that is set for a big role in 2025.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2025
Calhoun, who also goes by Joel I. Calhoun, was arrested July 17 leaving a store in the 2600 block of East Lincoln Highway with a .380 caliber handgun loaded with non-explosive cartridges, police said.
—Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025
Deputies found that Rowell, who had an SKS-style, 7.62 caliber assault rifle beside him, had a slight pulse.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for caliber
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Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 31 July 2025
The Horned Frogs return two all-conference caliber linebackers and have a young up and coming linebacker that is set for a big role in 2025.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2025
Calhoun, who also goes by Joel I. Calhoun, was arrested July 17 leaving a store in the 2600 block of East Lincoln Highway with a .380 caliber handgun loaded with non-explosive cartridges, police said.
—Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025
Deputies found that Rowell, who had an SKS-style, 7.62 caliber assault rifle beside him, had a slight pulse.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 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 5 Aug. 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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