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

The veteran made the National League All-Star team three times in his career, all with the Cubs. —Matt Schooley, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025

Povich is one-half of a TV power couple with his wife, veteran news anchor Connie Chung. —Anika Reed, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025

And just as it was executed, another veteran goes down to injury. —Arpon Basu, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025

The veteran running back took a handoff from quarterback Bryce Young in the second quarter and picked up three yards on the tote. —Charlotte Observer, 21 Dec. 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