veteran
Americannoun
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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.
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a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war.
a Vietnam veteran.
adjective
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(of soldiers) having had service or experience in warfare.
veteran troops.
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experienced through long service or practice; having served for a long period.
a veteran member of Congress.
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of, relating to, or characteristic of veterans.
noun
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a person or thing that has given long service in some capacity
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( as modifier )
veteran firemen
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a soldier who has seen considerable active service
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( as modifier )
veteran soldier
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a person who has served in the military forces
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See veteran car
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of veteran
First recorded in 1495–1505; from Latin veterānus “mature, experienced,” from veter- (stem of vetus ) “old” + -ānus -an
Explanation
Veteran commonly refers to someone who has fought in a war––think Veterans' Day, the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial––but, in fact, the word can mean anyone with experience in a particular field. Many veterans of World War II went to college afterward, through the G.I. Bill, and pursued professional careers. At the end of those careers, it was not unusual to find among the ranks of veteran teachers or veteran attorneys or veteran doctors men who were also veterans of the war.
Vocabulary lists containing veteran
Veterans Day Vocabulary
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November Words
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Memorial Day: Words of Respect and Remembrance
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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.
The Bruins’ veteran pitcher responded by striking out the Gamecocks’ Tate Davis and Natalie Heath to close the inning.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
Warren - a veteran of 45 years in the sport - described it as "the best heavyweight fight" he has promoted.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Mr. Brown, a veteran baseball writer, isn’t merely concerned with the flamethrowing right-hander’s exploits on the mound.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Read more: Software stocks are finally priced for a comeback, this veteran strategist says.
From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026
Why did veteran Himalayan guides keep moving upward, ushering a gaggle of relatively inexperienced amateurs—each of whom had paid as much as $65,000 to be taken safely up Everest—into an apparent death trap?
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
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.
