vet
noun
vet
1 American
[vet]
/ vɛt /
noun
verb (used with object)
vets,
present (3rd person singular)
vetted,
past participle, past
vetting
present participle
-
to appraise, verify, or check for accuracy, authenticity, suitability, etc..
An expert vetted the manuscript before publication.
-
to examine or treat in one's capacity as a veterinarian.
verb (used without object)
vets,
present (3rd person singular)
vetted,
past participle, past
vetting
present participle
vet
2
American
[vet]
/ vɛt /
noun
Informal.
vet.
3
American
abbreviation
-
veteran.
-
veterinarian.
-
veterinary.
vet
1
British
/ vɛt /
noun
verb
-
(tr) to make a prior examination and critical appraisal of (a person, document, scheme, etc) See also positive vetting
the candidates were well vetted
-
to examine, treat, or cure (an animal)
vet.
2
British
abbreviation
-
veteran
-
veterinarian
-
veterinary
vet
3
British
/ vɛt /
noun
Other Word Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have vettedperfect
-
has vettedperfect 3rd person singular
-
is vettingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
am vettingprogressive 1st person singular
-
has been vettingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
vettingparticiple
-
vetssingular 3rd person
-
have been vettingperfect progressive
-
are vettingprogressive
Past
-
had vettedperfect
-
had been vettingperfect progressive
-
were vettingprogressive plural
-
was vettingprogressive singular
-
vettedparticiple
-
vettedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of vet1
First recorded in 1860–65; short for veterinarian
Origin of vet2
An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; shortened form
Explanation
You are a vet if you served in the Armed Forces, or if you went to veterinary school and now give medical care to animals. The noun vet is short for either veteran (of the Armed Forces) or veterinarian (animal doctor). As a verb, vet means "to carefully examine beforehand." For example, your boss might ask you to vet people's applications before calling them for interviews, just to make sure they have the right experience for the job. Medically speaking, when a doctor vets you — or an animal — medical care is given.
Vocabulary lists containing vet
Essential Three-Letter Words, Part 3
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This Week In Words: April 12–18, 2020
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Vocabulary from President Trump's First Address to Congress
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Inspectors can vet the missiles as they are assembled.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Then she completed the wholesale shakeup that saw yet another TV vet, 60 Minutes executive producer Tanya Simon, replaced with Nick Bilton, a frequently criticized tech writer with zero experience in broadcast news.
From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026
"The Akhal-Teke is a wonderful sport horse," a retired vet, 66-year-old Sapargeldy, told AFP at the prize ceremony, declining to give his surname.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
Her husband, Paul Quattlebaum, fumed, “If I took my dog to a vet and it had this problem, that dog would get better treatment.”
From Salon • May 27, 2026
The CDO manager’s job was to select the Wall Street firm to supply him with subprime bonds that served as the collateral for CDO investors, and then to vet the bonds themselves.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
