Fine-tuning the meaning: "adjust" vs. "calibrate"

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 10/11/2024, 18:02

English.me team member

Adjust and calibrate. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words refer to making changes to something to achieve a desired outcome or function. They involve modification or fine-tuning.

What is different?

Adjust is a broader term that can refer to any minor change to make something more suitable or correct. Calibrate is more technical and specific, often used in scientific or technical contexts to mean setting or tuning something to a standard or reference point.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Adjust

I need to adjust the seat to be more comfortable.
She adjusted the volume on the radio.
The company adjusted its sales strategy after the market analysis.

Calibrate

The technician will calibrate the measuring instrument.
It's important to calibrate the equipment before use.
He calibrated the scale to ensure accurate weight measurements.