veteran

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noun vet·er·an \ˈve-tə-rən, ˈve-trən\

: someone who fought in a war as a soldier, sailor, etc.

: someone who has a lot of experience in a particular activity, job, etc.

Full Definition of VETERAN

1

a :  an old soldier of long service

b :  a former member of the armed forces

2

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

— veteran adjective

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Examples of VETERAN

1. a veteran of the political scene
2. He's a 10-year veteran with the team.

Origin of VETERAN

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

First Known Use: 1509

Related to VETERAN

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

beginner, colt, fledgling, freshman, greenhorn, neophyte, newbie, newcomer, novice, recruit, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro

Related Words

doyenne; adept, dab hand [chiefly British], expert, guru, hand, master, maven (also mavin), past master, pro, professional

Near Antonyms

apprentice, cub; boot, novitiate; amateur, dilettante; learner, student, trainee; candidate, entrant, probationer

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical