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
For a pitcher of Fitts' caliber — a mid-rotation starter at best — the Cubs would be more likely to serve up catcher Pablo Aliendo, a $200,000 signing in 2018 also out of Venezuela, who is currently at Double-A seven years later.
—
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
The projectiles found at the scene matched the caliber of a gun found at Robinson’s home during a search warrant, officers said.
—Paloma Chavez, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2025
Routh allegedly researched and attempted to purchase a .50 caliber sniper rifle from a gun dealer in the Fort Pierce, Florida, area.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Prosecutors said Routh hoped to purchase the .50 caliber rifle at a gun show, but his contact was ultimately not able to locate the type of gun Routh wanted until after the assassination attempt at the golf course.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caliber
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David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
The projectiles found at the scene matched the caliber of a gun found at Robinson’s home during a search warrant, officers said.
—Paloma Chavez, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2025
Routh allegedly researched and attempted to purchase a .50 caliber sniper rifle from a gun dealer in the Fort Pierce, Florida, area.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Prosecutors said Routh hoped to purchase the .50 caliber rifle at a gun show, but his contact was ultimately not able to locate the type of gun Routh wanted until after the assassination attempt at the golf course.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 8 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 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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