Veteran
//ˈvɛ.tə.ɹən// adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person with long experience of a particular activity.
"The company's new hires were nervous, but the veterans were self-assured because, as one summarized it, "this isn't our first rodeo.""
- 2 an experienced person who has been through many battles; someone who has given long service wordnet
- 3 A person with long experience of a particular activity.; A person who has served in the armed forces, especially an old soldier who has seen long service.
"We honor veterans and senior citizens with a ten percent discount."
- 4 a person who has served in the armed forces wordnet
- 5 A group, animal, etc. with long experience of a particular activity. figuratively
"Their mules were clearly veterans. They seemed to know what to do even better than the teenage farmhand who was driving the team."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 a serviceman who has seen considerable active service wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Having had long experience, practice, or service. not-comparable
"The insinuating eloquence and delicate flattery of veteran diplomatists and courtiers."
- 2 Of or relating to former members of the military armed forces, especially those who served during wartime. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 rendered competent through trial and experience wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A village in Alberta, Canada.
- 2 A town in New York.
- 3 A census-designated place in Wyoming.
Example
More examples"My uncle is a veteran of the Vietnam War."
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French vétéran, from Latin veterānus.
Related phrases
More for "veteran"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.