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

CreatiVets, the nonprofit behind the event, works with veterans struggling with trauma and the difficult transition to civilian life by pairing them with professional songwriters and artists. —Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2026

Clyburn appeared in Charlotte the same day the South Carolina Senate failed to advance a redistricting plan that would’ve drawn the veteran congressman out of his seat. —Mary Ramsey may 26, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026

John McClain, the veteran music executive who was co-executor of the Michael Jackson estate and helped engineer the financial recovery of the singer’s legacy and properties, died Monday due to complications from a fall, a rep for the estate confirms to Variety. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 27 May 2026

As brush is cleared and pathways reopen, headstones belonging to College Park's first African American veterans, educators, morticians, community leaders, and generations of local families are beginning to reappear. —Nakell Williams, CBS News, 27 May 2026

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