veteran

[ vet-er-uh n, ve-truh n ]
/ ˈvɛt ər ən, ˈvɛ trən /

noun

a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like: a veteran of the police force; a veteran of many sports competitions.
a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war: a Vietnam veteran.

adjective

(of soldiers) having had service or experience in warfare: veteran troops.
experienced through long service or practice; having served for a long period: a veteran member of Congress.
of, relating to, or characteristic of veterans.

Origin of veteran

1495–1505; < Latin veterānus mature, experienced, equivalent to veter- (stem of vetus) old + -ānus -an

OTHER WORDS FROM veteran

non·vet·er·an, noun

Words nearby veteran

vet. med., vet. sci., vetch, vetchling, veter., veteran, veteran car, veterans administration, veterans day, veterans of foreign wars, veterans of foreign wars of the united states

British Dictionary definitions for nonveteran

veteran
/ (ˈvɛtərən, ˈvɛtrən) /

noun

  1. a person or thing that has given long service in some capacity
  2. (as modifier)veteran firemen
  1. a soldier who has seen considerable active service
  2. (as modifier)veteran soldier
US and Canadian a person who has served in the military forces
See veteran car

Word Origin for veteran

C16: from Latin veterānus, from vetus old