veteran

[vet-er-uhn, ve-truhn]

noun

1. a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like.

   a veteran of the police force; a veteran of many sports competitions.

2. a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war.

   a Vietnam veteran.

adjective

1. (of soldiers) having had service or experience in warfare.

   veteran troops.

2. experienced through long service or practice; having served for a long period.

   a veteran member of Congress.

3. of, relating to, or characteristic of veterans.

veteran

/ ˈvɛtrən, ˈvɛtərən /

noun

1. 1. a person or thing that has given long service in some capacity

   2. ( as modifier )

      veteran firemen

2. 1. a soldier who has seen considerable active service

   2. ( as modifier )

      veteran soldier

3. a person who has served in the military forces

4. See veteran car

Other Word Forms

• nonveteran noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of veteran¹

First recorded in 1495–1505; from Latin veterānus “mature, experienced,” from veter- (stem of vetus ) “old” + -ānus -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of veteran¹

C16: from Latin veterānus, from vetus old

Example Sentences

When the party moved to elsewhere and the Hampden stands were eventually empty, there was veteran keeper Gordon, drafted back in for this camp, standing on the pitch getting pictured with his family.

Read more on BBC

Theater veteran Elizabeth Franz, who won a Tony Award for her role in ‘Death of a Salesman’ and appeared in a memorable episode of ‘Gilmore Girls,’ has died.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The employee filed the complaint with the division director, Robert Turner, a 22-year veteran of the bureau who previously held roles in counterterrorism and counterespionage.

Read more on Salon

A separate package of protections for veterans is also being proposed by the UK government.

Read more on BBC

Mr. Century, a veteran investigative journalist, has drawn on those writings, as well as many other firsthand accounts, to give his narrative a rich, novelistic sheen.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• old-time 
• skilled 
• trained www.thesaurus.com