veteran

noun vet·er·an \ ˈve-tə-rən , ˈve-trən \

Definition of veteran

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

See veteran defined for English-language learners

See veteran defined for kids

Examples of veteran in a Sentence

a veteran of the political scene
He's a 10-year veteran with the team.

Recent Examples of veteran from the Web

The Jets came into camp with a three-way battle for the starting QB position with veteran McCown figuring to be the favorite — at least to start things off.

— george richards, miamiherald, "2017 AFC Preview: Can anyone beat Tom Brady and the Patriots?," 30 Aug. 2017
Still, some industry veterans argue the guidelines are not enough.

— sophie haigney, New York Times, "Amid ‘Gung-Ho Mentality,’ Stunt Deaths Renew a Debate Over Safety," 29 Aug. 2017
South Alabama returns a veteran team, including five players with starting experience on the offensive line and six starters on defense.

— creg stephenson, AL.com, "South Alabama looking to repeat upset formula in season-opener at Ole Miss," 29 Aug. 2017
The Cowboys, though, have a veteran offense returning.

— the lonnquist notes, by kevin lonnquist, star-telegram, "Who will win Friday night? Weekly high school football picks are back," 28 Aug. 2017
Here are five instances of when a veteran quarterback handed the reins to a younger quarterback, and how each performed.

— pete grathoff, kansascity, "If Chiefs plan to hand reins to Mahomes, consider these past QB handoffs," 26 Aug. 2017
The following oral history continues in Part Two story of WWII veteran Roy E. Dennis.

— nancy stearns theiss, The Courier-Journal, "World War II Army Air Corps veteran reflects on mission in Guam," 23 Aug. 2017
Cristian Boodhoo, 35, a 10-year veteran of the department, died while traveling on Route 924 at about 7:30 a.m., the department said in a news release, which also stated that Maryland State Police were continuing to investigate the accident.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "State corrections services investigator dies in Abingdon accident Sunday," 22 Aug. 2017
Of this group, only Hook—a veteran of the George W. Bush administration—has any notable foreign-policy experience.

— abigail tracy, The Hive, "Is Rex Tillerson Destroying the State Department in Order to Save It?," 20 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'veteran.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of veteran

Latin veteranus, from veteranus, adjective, old, of long experience, from veter-, vetus old — more at wether

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1509

See Words from the same year

veteran Synonyms

Synonyms

doyen, old hand, old-timer, stager, vet, warhorse

Antonyms

beginner, colt, fledgling, freshman, greenhorn, neophyte, newbie, newcomer, novice, recruit, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro

Related Words

doyenne; adept, dab hand [chiefly British], expert, guru, hand, master, maven (also mavin), past master, pro, professional

Near Antonyms

apprentice, cub; boot, novitiate; amateur, dilettante; learner, student, trainee; candidate, entrant, probationer

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

VETERAN Defined for English Language Learners

veteran

noun

Definition of veteran for English Language Learners

: someone who fought in a war as a soldier, sailor, etc.
: someone who has a lot of experience in a particular activity, job, etc.

VETERAN Defined for Kids

veteran

noun vet·er·an \ ˈve-tə-rən , ˈve-trən \

Definition of veteran for Students

1 :a person who has had long experience

2 :a former member of the armed forces especially in war

veteran

adjective

Definition of veteran for Students

:having gained skill through experience

She is a veteran dog trainer.

Learn More about veteran

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for veteran Spanish Central: Translation of veteran Nglish: Translation of veteran for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of veteran for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up veteran? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

veteran

Definition of veteran

veteran

Explore Merriam-Webster

Examples of veteran in a Sentence

Recent Examples of veteran from the Web

Origin and Etymology of veteran

veteran Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Military Terms

VETERAN Defined for English Language Learners

veteran

Definition of veteran for English Language Learners

VETERAN Defined for Kids

veteran

Definition of veteran for Students

veteran

Definition of veteran for Students

Learn More about veteran

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Learned Fools: On Names for Students

Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

The Exceptions Quiz III

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066