veteran
[vet-er-uh n, ve-truh n]
- 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.
- a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war: a Vietnam veteran.
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- (of soldiers) having had service or experience in warfare: veteran troops.
- experienced through long service or practice; having served for a long period: a veteran member of Congress.
- of, relating to, or characteristic of veterans.
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Origin of veteran
1495–1505; < Latin veterānus mature, experienced, equivalent to veter- (stem of vetus) old + -ānus -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
old-timeskilledtrainedproexpertvetwiseversedsteadyadeptoldold-timertrouperwarhorseGIsourdoughhardenedpracticalpracticedproficientExamples from the Web for veteran
Contemporary Examples
Jones is a veteran of another beloved-yet-controversial animated series on Adult Swim, The Boondocks.
The veteran, said he met Stone at support group Vets for Veterans.
Veteran player Wiig continued without skipping a beat, but the damage was done.
His death was particularly difficult for the veteran firefighters who had spent years working alongside him.
Craig-Lewis was an 11-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department, a position she had aspired to since grade school.
Historical Examples
But among the veteran speculators the feeling was conservative.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
The veteran at the stern we could not see, but doubtless his skill was equally remarkable.
The Roof of FranceMatilda Betham-Edwards
"To-day I am only a soldier, Major Heyward," said the veteran.
The Last of the MohicansJames Fenimore Cooper
A sad mishap it is, for he was a skilful leader and a veteran soldier.'
Micah ClarkeArthur Conan Doyle
Saying this, she delivered the standard to the veteran warrior.
Gomez AriasJoaqun Telesforo de Trueba y Coso
veteran
- a person or thing that has given long service in some capacity
- (as modifier)veteran firemen
- a soldier who has seen considerable active service
- (as modifier)veteran soldier
- US and Canadian a person who has served in the military forces
- See veteran car
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin veterānus, from vetus old
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for veteran
n.
c.1500, "old experienced soldier," from French vétéran, from Latin veteranus "old," from vetus (genitive veteris) "old," from PIE *wetus- "year" (cf. Sanskrit vatsa- "year," Greek etos "year," Hittite witish "year," Old Church Slavonic vetuchu "old," Old Lithuanian vetušas "old, aged"). Latin vetus also is the ultimate source of Italian vecchio, French vieux, Spanish viejo. General sense of "one who has seen long service in any office or position" is attested from 1590s. The adjective first recorded 1610s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper