/ ˈvetərən; NAmE / noun
1.
a person who has a lot of experience in a particular area or activity :
the veteran British actor, Sir Richard Attenborough
2.
(also NAmE informal vet ) a person who has been a soldier, sailor, etc. in a war :
war veterans
a Vietnam vet
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: from French vétéran or Latin veteranus , from vetus old.