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caliber

KAL-uh-ber /ˈkælɪbə(r)/

nounC1GRESATIELTS

professionaljournalistic

The quality of someone's character or the level of their ability; the internal diameter of a gun barrel.

Caliber refers to a standard of excellence or capability. It is almost always used to describe high-quality individuals, institutions, or work, rather than low-quality ones, unless qualified by an adjective (e.g., 'low caliber').

The story behind the word. The word caliber took a fascinating journey. It started as the Arabic qālib, a mold used for casting metal. The Spanish and Italians adopted it to describe the mold used to cast bullets of a specific size. Eventually, the size of the bullet came to represent the power and quality of the gun, which English speakers then turned into a metaphor for the intellectual and moral 'power' of a person.

Word relationships

stature: Stature refers to the reputation, prestige, or moral standing a person has achieved, whereas caliber refers to their intrinsic capability and quality of mind.
merit: Merit is the quality of being particularly good or worthy, often deserving praise, while caliber is a broader measure of capacity and potential.

mediocrity: Mediocrity refers to the state of being average, ordinary, or of low quality, which is the opposite of high caliber.

Commonly confused with

calipers: Calipers are an instrument used to measure distances or diameters, whereas caliber is the measurement itself or a metaphor for personal quality.

Word family

calibrate (verb): To adjust or mark a measuring instrument so that it can give accurate readings.
calibration (noun): The process of calibrating or adjusting a standard.

Collocations

high caliber
caliber of leadership
caliber of work
exceptional caliber

Idioms & expressions

cut of one's jib
measure of a man

Example sentences

"We are looking for a leader of high caliber who can inspire confidence across our global offices." A hiring manager discussing the quality of candidates for an executive role.
"The caliber of the men who served in the early cabinets was exceptionally high." A historical speech discussing the quality of public servants.

Memory hook

Think of a 'caliber' as a measure of how much 'caliber' (ammunition power) a person has in their intellectual arsenal. Caliber = Bullet size, representing personal power.

When not to use

Do not use 'caliber' to describe physical size or quantity unless you are specifically talking about firearms or pipes. In professional contexts, it refers strictly to quality and capability.

Fun facts

In the United States, the spelling is 'caliber', while in British English, it is spelled 'calibre'.

Related words

capability, prowess

Explore more words

standard, calibrate, discerning, illustrious, calibration, exemplar