Meaning & use
veteran
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A person who has served in the armed forces, especially in a war.
Grammar: Plural is veterans; American usage often means a former soldier.
Patterns
- a veteran of something
- a war veteran
The veteran told the students about his time in the navy.
Veterans marched in the parade on Memorial Day.
She works with a charity that helps veterans find housing.
nouncountable
Someone with a long record of experience in a field or activity.
Grammar: Usually followed by of or in: a veteran of the industry.
Patterns
- a veteran of something
- a veteran in something
She is a veteran of three Olympic Games.
The team's veteran guided the rookies.
He is a veteran in the trade, with thirty years' experience.
adjectivebefore a noun
Having long experience in a particular job or field.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a veteran teacher.
Patterns
- veteran + noun
A veteran reporter covered the story.
The veteran pilot landed the plane safely.
The club's veteran coach has won many titles.
Word forms
| plural | veterans |
|---|
Common combinations
- war veteran
- The war veteran received a medal.
- veteran actor
- The veteran actor still performs on stage.
- combat veteran
- The combat veteran spoke about his service.
- seasoned veteran
- A seasoned veteran led the climb.
- veterans' benefits
- She applied for veterans' benefits.
- Veterans Day
- Schools close on Veterans Day.
Synonyms and how they differ
- old hand
- Old hand is informal and British, and suggests someone who has done a job for years.
- expert
- Expert stresses skill, while veteran stresses long experience.
- ex-serviceman
- Ex-serviceman is a formal word specifically for former military members.
- seasoned
- Seasoned is an adjective meaning experienced through long practice.
Opposites
Word family
- veterans noun
- plural form
- veterinary adjective
- relating to animal medicine
- veterinarian noun
- an animal doctor
- vet noun
- short for veteran or veterinarian
Commonly confused: veteran or veterinarian?
veteran vs veterinarian
A veterinarian treats animals and shares a root with veteran but is not a former soldier.
Practice
The team's ___ goalkeeper had played over 500 games and calmed the younger players.
Choose one answer.
Veteran means with long experience. Novice is the opposite, since it means a beginner.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “veteran”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.