What does "caliber" mean?
Diameter of the bore of a firearm, typically measured between opposite lands.
Caliber
/ˈkæl.ɪ.bə(ɹ)/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Diameter of the bore of a firearm, typically measured between opposite lands.
- Grammar: caliber is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: bore, gauge, quality, ability.
- Useful contrasts: inferiority, mediocrity, narrowness.
- Usage evidence: Such abundance I accept apparent in this country, such top moral values, humans of such caliber, that I do not anticipate we would anytime beat this country, unless we breach the actual courage of this nation, which is her airy and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I adduce that we alter her old and age-old apprenticeship system, her culture, for if the Indians anticipate that all that is adopted and English is acceptable and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their built-in self-culture and they will become what we ambition them, an absolutely bedevilled nation.
How to use "caliber"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "caliber" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "caliber" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "caliber" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "caliber" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "caliber" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bore" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "caliber", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Diameter of the bore of a firearm, typically measured between opposite lands. US, countable, uncountable
- 2 a degree or grade of excellence or worth wordnet
- 3 The diameter of round or cylindrical body, as of a bullet, a projectile, or a column. US, countable, uncountable
- 4 diameter of a tube or gun barrel wordnet
- 5 A nominal name for a cartridge type, which may not exactly indicate its true size and may include other measurements such as cartridge length or black powder capacity. Eg 7.62×39 or 38.40. US, countable, uncountable
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 Unit of measure used to express the length of the bore of a weapon. The number of calibres is determined by dividing the length of the bore of the weapon, from the breech face of the tube to the muzzle, by the diameter of its bore. A gun tube the bore of which is 40 feet (480 inches) long and 12 inches in diameter is said to be 40 calibers long. US, countable, uncountable
- 7 Relative size, importance, magnitude. US, countable, figuratively, uncountable
"A snort of about the calibre of an explosion in an ammunition dump escaped my late father's sister."
- 8 Capacity or compass of mind. US, countable, figuratively, uncountable
- 9 Degree of importance or station in society. US, countable, dated, uncountable
- 10 Movement of a timepiece. US, countable, uncountable
Example
"Such abundance I accept apparent in this country, such top moral values, humans of such caliber, that I do not anticipate we would anytime beat this country, unless we breach the actual courage of this nation, which is her airy and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I adduce that we alter her old and age-old apprenticeship system, her culture, for if the Indians anticipate that all that is adopted and English is acceptable and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their built-in self-culture and they will become what we ambition them, an absolutely bedevilled nation."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "caliber"?
Common synonyms include: bore, gauge, quality, ability, ableness, adequacy.
How do you use "caliber" in a sentence?
Such abundance I accept apparent in this country, such top moral values, humans of such caliber, that I do not anticipate we would anytime beat this country, unless we breach the actual courage of this nation, which is her airy and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I adduce that we alter her old and age-old apprenticeship system, her culture, for if the Indians anticipate that all that is adopted and English is acceptable and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their built-in self-culture and they will become what we ambition them, an absolutely bedevilled nation.
How do you pronounce "caliber"?
Pronounced /ˈkæl.ɪ.bə(ɹ)/.
Etymology
From French calibre (“bore of a gun, size, capacity (literally, and figuratively), also weight”), from Italian calibro.