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

Founded in 2015 by industry veterans Nancy Caravetta and Jessica Goldberg, Rebel Gail has rapidly grown into one of the most influential firms in the sector. —Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025

His son, Brett, was also a 20-year NHL veteran and, like his dad, is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. —Ryan Morik, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2025

Detective Terry Avent, a 21-year veteran and member of the NYPD’s elite Emergency Service Unit, was executing a search warrant in the Vladeck Houses on Madison St. when 35-year-old Edwin Rivera opened fire at the officers, striking the detective in the shoulder. —Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025

Did your favorite veteran pitcher fail to meet his career standards last season? —Tim Britton, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 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