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Definition of veteran noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

veteran

noun
 
 
/ˈvetərən/
 
/ˈvetərən/
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  1.  
    a person who has a lot of experience in a particular area or activity
    • the veteran American actor, Clint Eastwood
    Extra Examples
    • The speech was given by the veteran British actor and producer, Sir Richard Attenborough.
    • He's a seasoned veteran of the political establishment.
    • He's the seasoned veteran, who has taken the children to the museum many times.
    • a veteran of numerous political campaigns
    • an eight-year veteran of the New York Yankees
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • battle-scarred
    • grizzled
    • long-time
    • …
    veteran + noun
    • campaigner
    • leader
    • politician
    • …
    preposition
    • veteran of
    See full entry
  2.  
    (also North American English, informal vet)
    a person who has been a soldier, sailor, etc. in a war
    • war veterans
    • a veteran of the Spanish Civil War
    Extra Examples
    • Veterans returned to heroes' welcomes.
    • Were veterans honoured and adequately rewarded for their sacrifice?
    • veterans who served in Vietnam
    Topics War and conflictc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • combat
    • war
    • army
    • …
    verb + veteran
    • honour/​honor
    veteran + verb
    • fight
    • serve
    • return
    • …
    preposition
    • veteran of
    See full entry
    3. Word Originearly 16th cent.: from French vétéran or Latin veteranus, from vetus ‘old’.
See veteran in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee veteran in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: veteran

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