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

Members of the veteran community also honored her final act of service. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Greenberg evidently leaned on his professional experience as a veteran producer and problem-solver and leapt into action rather that crumbling under his emotions. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026

Her husband, a veteran who experienced PTSD and suicidal ideation, received the treatment in 2017. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026

The statue was a parabolic gesture of high seriousness aimed at African American veterans, newly returned from World War II. —Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 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