Word
vet
US/ˈvɛt/
UK/vˈɛt/
Definitions
01animal doctor
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Medicine Informal
n. a doctor who treats animals when they are sick or injured.
n. a veterinarian or veterinary surgeon. Often used as a clipped form in general register.
“We had to take the cat to the vet because she stopped eating.”
“The local vet recommended a specialized diet to manage the golden retriever's joint inflammation and overall weight.”
Synonyms
02former soldier
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun American English · Informal
n. someone who used to be in the army, navy, or air force.
n. a veteran; a person who has served in the armed forces. Primarily an American English clipping.
“My grandfather is a navy vet who served during the war.”
“The organization provides housing assistance and career counseling for homeless vets returning from overseas deployments.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to check or screen
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to check someone or something carefully to make sure they are suitable for a job.
v. to subject a person or document to a thorough examination or evaluation, typically for the purpose of security or professional approval.
“The company will vet all new employees before they start working with sensitive data.”
“The committee spent several weeks vetting the candidates' financial backgrounds to ensure there were no potential conflicts of interest.”
Usage
This is a transitive verb and always requires a direct object.
Synonyms
Etymology
Clipping of veterinarian.
Clipping of veteran.
Possibly by analogy from Etymology 1, in the sense of "verifying the soundness [of an animal]"
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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