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Synonyms

veteran

American  
[vet-er-uhn, ve-truhn] / ˈvɛt ər ən, ˈvɛ trən /

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 British  
/ ˈvɛtrən, ˈvɛtərən /

noun

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

    2. ( as modifier )

      veteran firemen

    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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • nonveteran noun

Etymology

Origin of veteran

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It included retirees worried about executive overreach, young parents concerned about Congress ceding its constitutional role, veterans supporting Ukraine, and immigrants who know firsthand what authoritarianism looks like.

From The Wall Street Journal

The CEO, a Nike veteran who came out of retirement to take the top job in October 2024, has called China “the longest road ahead” in the company’s efforts to revive growth.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Reform source said that Roberts, who is ex-military, had "stepped back for personal reasons but remains an active champion for veterans in his community".

From BBC

India's largest airline IndiGo has named aviation industry veteran William Walsh as its new chief executive, weeks after the resignation of its former CEO.

From BBC

Glover is a 49-year-old veteran astronaut set to become the first Black person -- and first person of color -- to embark on a lunar voyage.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.