veteran

noun

vet·​er·​an ˈve-tə-rən How to pronounce veteran (audio)
ˈve-trən
Synonyms of veterannext
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

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Athens, Georgia, jam-band veterans will close out 2026 with two Charlotte performances, including a New Year’s Eve concert. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026 Malik Beasley, a nine-year veteran, is in negotiations with federal prosecutors on a plea deal after he was indicted this summer on sports gambling charges. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2026 The win makes the 80-year-old veteran the first Brazilian president since 1988 to win an election after losing the first round of voting. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026 In 1976, Koenig and Shatner both appeared on an episode of Columbo, but the Star Trek veterans didn’t share any scenes and didn’t talk during production. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for veteran

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of veteran was in 1509

Browse Nearby Words

vetchworm
veteran
veteranize
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Cite this Entry

“Veteran.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/veteran. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

veteran

noun
vet·​er·​an ˈvet-ə-rən How to pronounce veteran (audio)
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
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