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

• vet
• expert
• professional
• old-timer
• warhorse
• master

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

Anyone who doesn’t hold the same nostalgic hankering for veteran actresses holding court with one-woman shows might not be blamed for opting out. —Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025

He was released after a few weeks in jail when filmmaker Jen Gatien pledged her $2 million Manhattan apartment where the combat veteran was living as collateral for a bond. —Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2025

Instead, Arizona will turn to veteran Jacoby Brissett. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2025

The policy has several exceptions, including students age 21 and older as well as active-duty military members or veterans, as well as an exemption request process. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 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