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

• vet
• expert
• professional
• old-timer
• warhorse
• master

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

Two veteran data journalists are launching a new investigative publication to cover rising authoritarianism from the shadowy corners of the internet. —Max Tani, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025

The 16-year veteran began his career with some promise in Philadelphia, a market that has been starved for an everyday goaltender since the days of Ron Hextall, as well as with a bit of notoriety thanks to a viral call from TSN’s SportsCentre anchor Jay Onrait yelling Bobrovsky’s name. —Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025

Under the command of the unflappable Ernest McSorley, its veteran captain, the Fitz broke shipping records and tallied enormous profits. —Kevin Duchschere, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025

Beyond this, Sacramento State history professor Mona Siegel said that with traumatic wars, veterans return with internalized experiences and a desire to return to regular life. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 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