Search Dictionary
Definition of veteran
veteran
/ˈvɛt.ər.ən/
vet · er · an
Plural:veterans
•Adjective:veteran
veteran Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
1
Usage
Top 5k
veteran Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• adjective
1
Having had long experience, practice, or service in a particular role or field.
Example
"The veteran journalist asked the politician a series of challenging and insightful questions."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for veteran Antonyms
View all antonyms for veteran• noun
1
A person who has served in the military or armed forces, especially during wartime.
Example
"The city hosted a parade to honor the veterans who had bravely served their country."
2
A person who has had long experience or practice in a particular field, profession, or activity.
Example
"As a veteran of the tech industry, she was frequently asked to mentor junior software developers."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for veteran Antonyms
View all antonyms for veteran• Rhymes for veteran
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'veteranus', meaning 'old, experienced', which comes from 'vetus', meaning 'old'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Veteran. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/veteran