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

Trump loyalists have roiled the Justice Department, shattering norms and leading to a mass exodus of veteran officials, but the 92-year-old chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee has remained focused on the past. —Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025

And their alternatives to trusting Rivers were to roll with sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard – who is dealing with a knee injury – journeyman Brett Rypien or another veteran option from a quarterback pool that has, largely, been picked clean. —Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025

Sacramento will have to bring veteran forward Dario Saric or undrafted rookie two-way player Dylan Cardwell off the bench behind Raynaud. —Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 14 Dec. 2025

However, after Daniel Jones tore his Achilles and rookie Riley Leonard injured his knee after replacing the veteran, coupled with Anthony Richardson being injured, the Colts did not have many places to turn. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 13 Dec. 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