vetting

American  

[vet-ing] / ˈvɛt ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of appraising or checking a person or thing for suitability, accuracy, or validity.

   The quality of a competitive jazz festival is contingent upon the vetting and hiring of experienced judges, which must be done far in advance.

2. the act or process of examining or treating an animal in one’s capacity as a veterinarian.

   At this shelter we are passionately dedicated to the rescue, vetting, and homing of orphaned pets.

3. the occupation or work of a veterinarian.

   After 30 years of vetting, I sometimes struggle through my morning consults just to collapse in a chair before my afternoon surgery list.

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adjective

1. appraising, verifying, or checking something.

   The appointing authority (the Executive) and the vetting institution (Parliament) should scrutinize appointments so only those with the needed skills are appointed to diplomatic posts.

Etymology

Origin of vetting

First recorded in 1885–90; vet ¹ + -ing ¹ for the noun senses; vet ¹ + -ing ² for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

The party’s leader, Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, said this week that he has zero tolerance for antisemitism and is working to improve the vetting process for candidates.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

The letter comes after the sacking of former Foreign Office boss Sir Olly Robbins over his role in vetting Lord Mandelson to be the UK's ambassador to the US.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Rieder, who described the vetting process for Fed chair as “incredibly rigorous,” sees big changes ahead for the Fed after Powell’s eight-year run.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

The audit suggested that officials in the Texas comptroller’s office, which originally administered the program, were not vetting the number of out-of-town visitors stringently enough to ensure an economic benefit.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

In vetting him for the job, his trainer neglected to look at his sister, a local basketball phenom.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand