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 of veteran

• vet
• expert
• professional
• master
• 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

Larry Colvin is a proud Vietnam veteran who's been forced back into the working world after 10 years of retirement as a repairman. —J.d. Miles, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026

The move has allowed Brind’Amour to load up his top line with Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis on Aho’s wing, while Hall has brought size and veteran guile to the second line with Stankoven and Blake. —Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026

Barrier is a 13-year veteran of Disney, and most recently held the position of vice president of communications for The Walt Disney Studios, leading corporate communications and playing a key role in its campaigns. —Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026

The junior excelled in his role as a veteran ball handler alongside Boozer and his twin brother, Cayden. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026

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