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

Tuesday’s Suns–Nets game featured five technical fouls when New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jeremiah Fears and veteran Thunder player Lu Dort were separated in the second half. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026

Warsh indeed is a Fed veteran, serving during the critical period of 2006 to 2011 that led up to and ultimately through the global financial crisis and the central bank’s efforts to stabilize the economy. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026

On the Bulls’ side there is sage veteran Nikola Vucevic, an ongoing double-double machine, including 15 points and 10 rebounds in his team’s 116-113 loss Thursday night to the Heat at the United Center. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026

Rookie Omarr Norman-Lott’s season-ending knee injury sapped the pass-rush juice on the inside next to Jones, and veterans Mike Danna and Charles Omenihu didn’t live up to their previous years’ standards. —Jesse Newell, New York Times, 30 Jan. 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