veteran

[ vet-er-uh n, ve-truh n ]

/ ˈvɛt ər ən, ˈvɛ trən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR veteran ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

adjective

(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.

Nearby words

vet. med., vet. sci., vetch, vetchling, veter., veteran, veteran car, veterans administration, veterans day, veterans of foreign wars, veterans of foreign wars of the united states

Origin of veteran

1495–1505; < Latin veterānus mature, experienced, equivalent to veter- (stem of vetus) old + -ānus -an

Related forms

non·vet·er·an, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for veteran

Jones is a veteran of another beloved-yet-controversial animated series on Adult Swim, The Boondocks.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical|Stereo Williams|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The veteran, said he met Stone at support group Vets for Veterans.
Hunt for Iraq Vet After Killing Spree|M.L. Nestel|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Veteran player Wiig continued without skipping a beat, but the damage was done.
The Curious Little Shell That Restarted Jenny Slate’s Career|Luke Hopping|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His death was particularly difficult for the veteran firefighters who had spent years working alongside him.
The Mystery Death Of A Female Firefighter|Christopher Moraff|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Craig-Lewis was an 11-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department, a position she had aspired to since grade school.
The Mystery Death Of A Female Firefighter|Christopher Moraff|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Leaving the Captain and the veteran as temporary guards, he sallied forth, followed by the lawyer and the two parsons.
Two Knapsacks|John Campbell
His veteran legions were with difficulty restrained from rushing to the rescue.
Sketches of Aboriginal Life|V. V. Vide
A veteran would have recognized him as an old-timer and probable officer, and heeded, automatically.
Mercenary|Dallas McCord Reynolds
The Indian also, when forced to it, uses means of getting his bearings which only Indians and veteran woodsmen know how to use.
Woodcraft|E. H. (Elmer Harry) Kreps
It appears that a veteran spruce forest had occupied this burn prior to the fire.
The Spell of the Rockies|Enos A. Mills

British Dictionary definitions for veteran

veteran

/ (ˈvɛtərən, ˈvɛtrən) /

noun

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

Word Origin for veteran

C16: from Latin veterānus, from vetus old

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012