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

It was founded by Google veteran Jeff Shardell in Taos, New Mexico. —Cathy Hackl, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025

Civilians, like Gene Burt, and veterans alike are honored on the Liberty Memorial’s Walk of Honor. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025

The veteran left-hander has been one of Boston’s biggest success stories this season, making the Opening Day roster out of spring training as a non-roster invitee before emerging as a valuable depth starter and bulk reliever. —Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 27 May 2025

And The Challenge and Big Brother alum Josh Martinez is also among the cast, starting off the season as the only reality TV veteran before Weber and Craig join the show. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 27 May 2025

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