veterinary

American  

[vet-er-uh-ner-ee, ve-truh-] / ˈvɛt ər əˌnɛr i, ˈvɛ trə- /

noun

plural

veterinaries

1. a veterinarian.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the medical and surgical treatment of animals, especially domesticated animals.

veterinary British  

/ ˈvɛtrɪnrɪ, ˈvɛtərɪnərɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to veterinary medicine

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Other Word Forms

• nonveterinary adjective

Etymology

Origin of veterinary

1780–90; < Latin veterīnārius, equivalent to veterīn ( ae ) beasts of burden (noun use of feminine plural of veterīnus pertaining to such beasts, equivalent to veter-, stem of vetus old, i.e., grown, able to take a load + -īnus -ine ¹ ) + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

Nithsdale Vets posted on Facebook about the unusual capture operation saying it proved that no two days were the same in veterinary practice.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

There is also potential for use in veterinary care, since gum disease in dogs and cats has similar underlying causes.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

Starting in July, graduate students attending professional programs, including for medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, will be able to borrow a maximum of $200,000 over the course of their degree.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Lichtenberg grew up primarily near Amherst, Mass., where his parents ran a veterinary hospital and had as many as eight cats living in their New England farmhouse.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Dan Dalgard, a doctor of veterinary medicine, was the consulting veterinarian at the Reston Primate Quarantine Unit.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston