- a person or thing that has given long service in some capacity
- (as modifier): veteran firefighters
- a soldier who has seen considerable active service
- a person who has served in the military forces
See veteran car
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
vet•er•an /ˈvɛtərən, ˈvɛtrən/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like.
- Militarya person who has served in a military force, esp. during a war.
adj. [before a noun]
- Military(of a soldier) having served in a military force, esp. during a war.
- experienced through long service or practice:a veteran member of Congress.
- of or relating to veterans:veteran benefits.
vet•er•an
(vet′ər ən, ve′trən),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
- 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.
- Militarya person who has served in a military force, esp. one who has fought in a war:a Vietnam veteran.
adj.
- Military(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, pertaining to, or characteristic of veterans.
- Latin veterānus mature, experienced, equivalent. to veter- (stem of vetus) old + -ānus -an
- 1495–1505
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
veteran /ˈvɛtərən; ˈvɛtrən/ n
'veteran' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
classic car
- stager
- vet
- vet.
- veteran car
- vintage car
- warhorse
- cadre
- experienced
- gunfighter
- inveterate
- old-timer
- pulverize
- Rambo
- trouper
- vexillary
- war-horse