# vet

/ˈvɛt/ (US) · /vˈɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vet
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. animal doctor

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

a doctor who treats animals when they are sick or injured.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. former soldier

noun · CEFR B1 · American English · Informal

someone who used to be in the army, navy, or air force.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to check or screen

verb · CEFR B2

to check someone or something carefully to make sure they are suitable for a job.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I need to take my cat to the vet.
- The local vet performed a successful surgery on the dog after it swallowed a small plastic toy.
- While many people associate the profession with domestic pets, a rural vet often spends the majority of their time managing the health and welfare of large livestock across multiple farms.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.