What does veteran mean?
Word: Veteran
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Veteran means a person who has done a job or activity for a long time and knows it well. It also means someone who once served in the armed forces.
Synonyms: old hand, expert
Word origin: Comes from French veteran, from Latin veteranus.
How do you spell veteran?
Syllables: vet - er - an
Tricky part: There are three syllables, vet-er-an. When the word is said fast the middle one disappears, and students write vetran.
Watch out for: vetran, vettran
Memory tip: Picture a vet who has looked after animals for forty years: a veteran vet. The word begins with vet, and the e right after it must not be dropped.
Veteran in a sentence
Example 1: Our school bus driver is a veteran who has driven the same route for twenty years.
Example 2: The veteran actor still rehearses every scene twice.
Example 3: As a veteran of five science fairs, Tanya knew exactly how to set up her stall.
Fun Fact
Veteran is also used for very old cars: in Britain a veteran car is one built before 1905, and only such cars may enter the yearly London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
The veteren wicketkeeper spent the afternoon showing the junior players how to stand behind the stumps.
a) only wicketkeeper
b) only veteren
c) veteren and stumps
d) junior and players
Show answer
b) only veteren. Veteran ends in an, the same as the end of guardian.
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option:
'Veteran' comes from the Latin word vetus, which means ___.
a) brave
b) strong
c) old
d) wise
Show answer
c) old. Vetus meant old, and a veteran is someone who has been at something for a long time.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. veteran 2. reluctant 3. ancient a. novice b. modern c. eager
a) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Show answer
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b. These are opposites: a veteran is the reverse of a novice, reluctant of eager, and ancient of modern.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
naretve 1234567
a) 6457321
b) 1437526
c) 2457361
d) 6475321
Show answer
a) 6457321. In that order the letters spell v-e-t-e-r-a-n.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which person is a veteran of the school choir?
a) a boy who is joining it next week
b) a parent watching from the hall
c) a visitor hearing it for the first time
d) a girl who has sung in it for six years
Show answer
d) a girl who has sung in it for six years
2. Someone described as a veteran teacher has ___.
a) a very loud voice
b) just finished training
c) never taught before
d) many years of experience
Show answer
d) many years of experience
