veterinary

1 of 2

adjective

vet·​er·​i·​nary ˈve-tə-rə-ˌner-ē  ˈve-trə- 

ˈve-tə-ˌner-

: of, relating to, practicing, or being the science and art of prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease and injury in animals and especially domestic animals

veterinary

2 of 2

noun

plural veterinaries

: veterinarian

Examples of veterinary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The team is now looking to test their antivenom on animals brought to veterinary clinics for snakebites before moving to human trials. —Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025

The researchers next plan to test the treatment in Australia in any dogs that are brought into veterinary clinics for snakebites. —Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 2 May 2025

Noun

Her own love for the species, along with animals of all kinds, influenced her decision to study veterinary before realizing the job wasn't for her. —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 16 May 2025

The rest of the veterinary is designed to soothe cats: phones don’t ring, machines don’t beep and all animals’ eyes in decorative paintings face away from the real-life veterinary patients. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin veterinarius of beasts of burden, from veterinae beasts of burden, from feminine plural of veterinus of beasts of burden; akin to Latin veter-, vetus old

First Known Use

Adjective

1790, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing veterinary

• veterinary medicine
• veterinary surgeon

Rhymes for veterinary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary

Kids Definition

veterinary

1 of 2 adjective

vet·​er·​i·​nary ˈvet-ə-rən-ˌer-ē  ˈve-trən- 

ˈvet-ᵊn-

: of, relating to, or being the medical care of animals

veterinary medicine

veterinary

2 of 2 noun

plural veterinaries

: veterinarian

Medical Definition

veterinary

1 of 2 adjective

vet·​er·​i·​nary ˈvet-ə-rən-ˌer-ē  ˈve-trən- 

ˈvet-ᵊn-

: of, relating to, or being veterinary medicine

veterinary

2 of 2 noun

plural veterinaries

: veterinarian