English Reference
Adjective

calibrated

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˈkæɫəˌbɹeɪtəd/ UK /kˈælɪbɹˌeɪtɪd/ cal·i·brat·ed

adj.carefully adjusted or checked so that it measures things accurately or works exactly as it should.

adj.adjusted precisely against a standard to ensure accuracy or consistency. Often describes instruments, scales, or carefully measured responses.


SIMPLE

The lab technician used a calibrated scale for the experiment.

CONTEXTUAL

The telescope must be perfectly calibrated to the night sky before the research team can begin recording data.

COMPLEX

The diplomat's response was a calibrated blend of firm rejection and polite openness, designed to maintain the peace without conceding any territory.

Usage

Often used as a participial adjective; typically follows a linking verb or precedes a noun.

The DNA tests were calibrated to estimate the number of wasps per gram of seed.

Phys.org· 30 Aug 2026

Although it was better to have purchased too much PPE in a pandemic than too little, it would "clearly have been better if supply had been calibrated more closely with demand", the report concluded.

BBC News· 14 Jul 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated