old-timer

American  

[ohld-tahy-mer] / ˈoʊldˈtaɪ mər /

noun

Informal.

1. a person whose residence, membership, or experience began long ago and has been continuing for a considerable length of time; veteran.

2. an old person.

3. an old-fashioned person or thing.

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old-timer British  

noun

1. a person who has been in a certain place, occupation, etc, for a long time

2. an old man

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Etymology

Origin of old-timer

First recorded in 1855–60; old-time + -er ¹

Explanation

An old-timer is someone who's been around a long time and has experienced a lot. When you get a new job, the old-timers there are the ones who can show you how things are done. Old-timers are veterans — they're been through it all. The old-timers in a busy office might reminisce about the days before computers, when everyone used typewriters and Rolodexes, and the old-timers in your neighborhood can tell you how quiet it used to be. You can also use this noun to mean "elderly person," like your grandpa and his buddies: "There are so many old-timers at the gym lately, I can never find a free treadmill."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

old-timer

The University of Iowa’s Stanley Perlman, another coronavirus old-timer, says it’s important to keep looking for new human ones.

From Science Magazine ● Jan. 11, 2024

Luis Angel Firpo in the old-timer category and Theresa Kibby in the women’s trailblazer category were the other fighters in the class.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 7, 2023

Hall plays Jones as a wizened but exhausted old-timer, cranky about the changing times, while Reece’s Brux is defensive about his success and hilariously awkward in his need for validation from an icon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2023

Every old-timer who frequents the Junction has a story about Husky Deli, a West Seattle institution for nearly a century.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 20, 2022

“Enjoying yourselves?” asked a black officer who I assumed was an old-timer.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover