veteran

noun

vet·​er·​an ˈve-tə-rən 

ˈve-trən

1

a

: a former member of the armed forces

b

: an old soldier of long service

2

: a person of long experience usually in some occupation or skill (such as politics or the arts)

veteran adjective

Synonyms

• doyen
• old hand
• old-timer
• stager
• vet
• warhorse

Examples of veteran in a Sentence

a veteran of the political scene

He's a 10-year veteran with the team.

Recent Examples on the Web

Also helpful is the kind of peer pressure among veterans who lead by example in terms of getting the proper amount of rest and recovery. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

His priorities include veterans’ rights, advocating for small businesses, protecting the border and education, according to his campaign website. AD-64 includes a portion of Los Angeles County and La Habra in Orange County. —Hanna Kang, Orange County Register, 7 Nov. 2024

The remains of 28 Civil War veterans and many of their wives are receiving burial services across the country. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024

Delafield said voting means a lot to him, as his World War II veteran father always encouraged his kids. —Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin veteranus, from veteranus, adjective, old, of long experience, from veter-, vetus old — more at wether

First Known Use

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

veteran

noun

vet·​er·​an ˈvet-ə-rən 

ˈve-trən

1

: a person who has had long experience (as in politics or the arts)

2

: a former member of the armed forces especially during wartime

veteran adjective