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

Benn, a 17-year veteran, played with a visor for the first time in 1,216 career games, leaving Nashville center Ryan O'Reilly, Minnesota defenseman Zach Bogosian, and Sharks winger Ryan Reaves as the last three active players who have never worn a visor in an NHL game. —CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026

Finley is the son of former Texas Longhorn and six-year NFL veteran Jermichael Finley. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Jan. 2026

The creation of co-owners and chefs Sachi Statz and Victor Santos, veterans of the Michelin Bib Gourmand breakfast-and-lunch restaurant Tinta y Cafe, Tin Tin revels in the blending of Cuban flavors and Italian cuisine, sometimes with a stroke of French influence. —Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2026

Kendricks, a 33-year-old 11-year veteran, was a Pro Bowler in 2019 with the Minnesota Vikings. —Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 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