veterinary

1 of 2

adjective

vet·​er·​i·​nary ˈve-tə-rə-ˌner-ē  ˈve-trə- 

ˈve-tə-ˌner-

: of, relating to, practicing, or being the science and art of prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease and injury in animals and especially domestic animals

veterinary

2 of 2

noun

plural veterinaries

: veterinarian

Examples of veterinary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

They felt somewhat vindicated in June 2021, when a USDA veterinary medical officer accompanied the agent who had been doing Triple D’s animal-welfare inspections. —Rene Ebersole, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024

The veterinary team decided to remove Tiger-Lily’s ovaries and on March 11 the snake underwent surgery at the Saint Louis Zoo Endangered Species Research Center and Veterinary Hospital. —USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin veterinarius of beasts of burden, from veterinae beasts of burden, from feminine plural of veterinus of beasts of burden; akin to Latin veter-, vetus old

First Known Use

Adjective

1790, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing veterinary

• veterinary medicine
• veterinary surgeon

Kids Definition

veterinary

1 of 2 adjective

vet·​er·​i·​nary ˈvet-ə-rən-ˌer-ē  ˈve-trən- 

ˈvet-ᵊn-

: of, relating to, or being the medical care of animals

veterinary medicine

veterinary

2 of 2 noun

plural veterinaries

: veterinarian

Medical Definition

veterinary

1 of 2 adjective

vet·​er·​i·​nary ˈvet-ə-rən-ˌer-ē  ˈve-trən- 

ˈvet-ᵊn-

: of, relating to, or being veterinary medicine

veterinary

2 of 2 noun

plural veterinaries

: veterinarian