veteran
gb/vˈɛtɚən/ us/vˈɛtɚən/
B1
English
~ 6800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
person who has served in the military
A person who has been in the army, navy, air force, or another part of the military, especially in a war.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a veteran of [a war/the army]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *veteran* to mean simply an 'old man'. In modern English, the main meaning is someone who has served in the military. For age alone, use words like *elderly man* or *old person*.
Synonyms
ex-servicemember (More formal and technical; focuses on past military service without emotional tone.)
|
former soldier (Refers more specifically to land forces and may not include navy or air force.)
Antonyms
civilian (Someone who is not serving in the armed forces and has no military status.)
Collocations
war veteran
|military veteran
|army veteran
|disabled veteran
|combat veteran
|veteran community
Themes
military
|society
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The city held a parade to honor local war veterans.
- As a Marine veteran, he still keeps in touch with his old unit.
- Many veterans struggle to adjust to civilian life after leaving the military.
- The government announced new healthcare programs for disabled veterans.
- She is a veteran of the Iraq War and now works as a teacher.
Learner examples
- My grandfather is a veteran of World War II.
- The hospital gives special care to military veterans.
- Many veterans wear medals on special days.
- The town has a memorial for its war veterans.
- Veterans sometimes tell stories about their time in the army.
Noun
B2
entity
2
very experienced person in a field
A person who has many years of experience in a job or activity.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a veteran of [an activity/field]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *veteran* always refers to the military. In phrases like *a veteran teacher* or *a political veteran*, it simply means a very experienced person in that field.
Synonyms
old hand (Informal; suggests someone who is very used to a job and confident doing it.)
|
seasoned professional (More formal; emphasizes long experience and skill in a profession.)
|
expert (Stresses high level of skill or knowledge; does not always imply long years of experience.)
Antonyms
beginner (Someone who has just started an activity and lacks experience.)
|
novice (Slightly more formal than *beginner*; clearly contrasts with long experience.)
Collocations
political veteran
|veteran actor
|veteran journalist
|industry veteran
|veteran teacher
|veteran campaigner
Themes
work
|people
|career
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She’s a veteran of the tech industry with over thirty years of experience.
- The negotiations were led by a veteran of international trade talks.
- As a veteran of countless campaigns, he knew how to handle a tough election.
- That coach is a veteran of many world championships.
- The company hired a veteran of the advertising world to lead the project.
Learner examples
- He is a veteran of many big business deals.
- She is a veteran teacher who has taught for thirty years.
- The team brought in a veteran to help the young players.
- As a veteran of the music scene, he gives good advice to new bands.
- Our guide was a veteran of many mountain trips.
adjective
B2
property
3
very experienced in a field
Having many years of experience in a job or activity.
Usage pattern:
a veteran [job/role/profession]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write *very veteran* or *more veteran*. Because *veteran* already includes the idea of strong experience, it is usually not graded this way. Use *very experienced* or *more experienced* instead.
Synonyms
experienced (General word; does not always suggest as many years as *veteran* does.)
|
seasoned (Very close in meaning; slightly more literary and often positive in tone.)
Antonyms
inexperienced (Lacks experience; neutral and direct opposite.)
|
rookie (Informal; usually used for sports or jobs; highlights being new rather than skilled.)
Collocations
veteran politician
|veteran reporter
|veteran actor
|veteran coach
|veteran leader
|veteran diplomat
Themes
work
|people
|media
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A veteran journalist broke the story after months of investigation.
- The company hired a veteran manager to turn the failing branch around.
- Under the guidance of a veteran coach, the team finally won the championship.
- He’s a veteran engineer who has worked on hundreds of projects.
- The panel included several veteran activists from the environmental movement.
Learner examples
- She is a veteran doctor at the hospital.
- We listened carefully to the veteran guide.
- The team needs a veteran player to lead them.
- A veteran teacher can handle difficult students well.
- He is a veteran manager and knows how to solve problems.
adjective
technical
C1
property
4
very old tree, car, etc.
Very old for its kind, usually a tree, car, or machine that has lived or worked for many years.
Usage pattern:
a veteran [tree/car/vehicle]
Common mistake:
This use of *veteran* is much less common and mostly appears in specific areas like ecology or classic vehicles. Learners may misunderstand it as a military reference, but here it simply means 'very old for its kind'.
Synonyms
old (More general; does not carry the extra idea of long survival or historical interest.)
|
antique (Focuses on age and value as an object; often used for things that are collected or traded.)
Antonyms
modern (Describes things from recent times, often with new design or technology.)
|
new (Recently made or bought; directly contrasts with being very old.)
Collocations
veteran car
|veteran tree
|veteran vehicle
|veteran aircraft
|veteran locomotive
|veteran oak
Themes
nature
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The rally featured dozens of veteran cars from the early twentieth century.
- Conservationists are working to protect the veteran oaks in the park.
- A veteran locomotive pulled the special anniversary train.
- The museum displayed a veteran aircraft from the Second World War.
- They restored a veteran motorcycle that had been in the family for generations.
Learner examples
- We saw a veteran car in the street parade.
- The park has many veteran trees.
- A veteran aircraft is kept in the small museum.
- They repaired a veteran train engine for the show.
- Tourists like to take photos of the veteran bus.
Grammar
Dictionary form
veteran
IPA
GB/vˈɛtɚən/
US/vˈɛtɚən/
Syllables & stress
vet - er - an (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (vet)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: veteran
- Plural: veterans
Word family
Forms
veterans
noun
Negative and opposite forms
nonveteran
noun
Expressions
combat veteran
1/kˈɑmbæt vˈɛtɚən/
fixed phrase
veteran who saw active fighting
A military veteran who has been in real fighting in a war.
Examples
- As a combat veteran, she speaks openly about post-traumatic stress.
- The program offers counseling specifically for combat veterans.
- Several combat veterans shared their stories at the school assembly.
military veteran
1/mˈɪlɪtˌɛɹi vˈɛtɚən/
fixed phrase
person who served in the armed forces
A person who has been in the army, navy, air force, or another part of a country’s armed forces.
Examples
- The company actively recruits military veterans for leadership roles.
- Military veterans often bring strong teamwork skills to civilian jobs.
- He is a military veteran with over twenty years of service.
veteran of
1/vˈɛtɚən əv/
fixed phrase
person long experienced in something
A person who has done a particular thing many times or for many years.
Examples
- She’s a veteran of international trade negotiations.
- As a veteran of many exams, he gave the students some helpful tips.
- He is a veteran of the local music scene.
veterans' benefits
1/vˈɛtɚənz bˈɛnəfɪts/
fixed phrase
official support for veterans
Money, medical care, or other help that the government gives to people who served in the military.
Examples
- Lawmakers debated changes to veterans' benefits in parliament.
- He applied for veterans' benefits after he left the army.
- The organization helps former soldiers understand their veterans' benefits.
veterans' hospital
1/vˈɛtɚənz hˈɔspˌɪtəl/
fixed phrase
hospital for former military members
A hospital that gives medical care mainly to people who served in the military.
Examples
- He receives treatment at a veterans' hospital outside the city.
- Many veterans' hospitals offer mental health services as well.
- The new clinic will reduce wait times at the main veterans' hospital.
veterans' organization
1/vˈɛtɚənz ˌɔɹɡənəzˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
association for former military members
A group that helps and supports people who have served in the military.
Examples
- He volunteers with a local veterans' organization.
- Several veterans' organizations marched together in the parade.
- The veterans' organization offers job training and counseling.
war veteran
1/wˈɔɹ vˈɛtɚən/
fixed phrase
person who fought in a war
A person who has been a soldier in a war.
Examples
- The charity provides housing for homeless war veterans.
- As a war veteran, he finds loud explosions especially stressful.
- The documentary interviews several war veterans about their experiences.