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

• doyen
• old hand
• old-timer
• stager
• vet
• 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 said Brown, an Army veteran, will secure the border and grow the economy as Nevada's next Senator. —Soo Rin Kim, ABC News, 10 June 2024

The Princess of Wales has maintained a low profile in the months since, and her husband shared new insight with a veteran at an anniversary service commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings on June 5. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024

The Royals got three hits from veteran duo Adam Frazier and Hunter Renfroe in that lineup spot. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2024

With friend and mentor Michael Thomas no longer on the team, Olave will lead a low-experience positional group that also includes a second-year player in 6-foot-3 1/2 A.T. Perry and a rookie in powerful Bub Means, in addition to Olave’s backup, the veteran Equanimeous St. Brown. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2024

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