veteran
VEH-tuh-ruhn
Veteran (noun) means someone with long experience in a particular field or activity. Example: “The goalkeeper is a veteran of the club who has played there for years.”
noun
1
Someone with long experience in a particular field or activity.
"The goalkeeper is a veteran of the club who has played there for years."
"As a veteran of many conferences, he knew exactly what to expect."
"She's a veteran of the fashion industry, with thirty years in the business."
2
A person who has served in the armed forces, especially during wartime.
"My grandfather was a veteran, and he rarely spoke about his time in service."
"The charity helps every veteran who needs support after leaving the army."
"The town holds a ceremony each November to honour its veterans."
adj
1
Having long experience or service in something.
"The veteran teacher calmly handled the noisy class on her own."
"A veteran gardener, he could name every plant in the park."
"A veteran journalist covered the trial for the local paper."
How to use veteran
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone highly experienced in their field, or specifically a former member of the armed forces.
Common pairings
a war veteran
a veteran player
Veterans Day
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Word forms
- Plural
- veterans
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The goalkeeper is a _____ of the club who has played there for years.
Etymology
From Latin veteranus, related to vetus, "old".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for veteran
See all rhymes for veteran →Frequently asked questions
What does “veteran” mean?
The word “veteran” means someone with long experience in a particular field or activity. In plain terms, someone highly experienced in their field, or specifically a former member of the armed forces.
How do you pronounce “veteran”?
“Veteran” is pronounced VEH-tuh-ruhn ([ˈvɛ.t̬ə.ɹən] in IPA).
How do you use “veteran” in a sentence?
Here is “veteran” used in a sentence: “She's a veteran of the fashion industry, with thirty years in the business.”
What part of speech is “veteran”?
Depending on how it is used, “veteran” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “veteran” come from?
The word “veteran” comes from Latin. From Latin veteranus, related to vetus, "old".
Is “veteran” a common word?
“Veteran” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “veteran” have?
“Veteran” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone with long experience in a particular field or activity.
What is the difference between a veteran and a soldier?
A soldier is a person currently serving in an army. A veteran is someone who has served in the armed forces, especially during wartime, and so usually refers to a former or long-serving member rather than someone on active duty in the way soldier does.
Can veteran describe someone outside the military?
Yes. Besides meaning a person who has served in the armed forces, veteran also means someone with long experience in a particular field or activity. In this sense you can speak of a veteran teacher, a veteran journalist, or a veteran of many campaigns.
What is the difference between a veteran and an expert?
A veteran is defined by long experience in a field, having done something for many years. An expert is defined by a high level of skill or knowledge, which can sometimes be gained quickly. A person can be a veteran without being the very best, and an expert without having decades of experience.
How is veteran used as an adjective?
As an adjective, veteran describes a person with long experience, as in "a veteran actor" or "a veteran campaigner." It is placed before the noun and signals that the person has been doing the activity for a long time.
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