vet

Formsvets, vetting, vetted

Pluralvets

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To examine something thoroughly, especially in order to decide whether to give it formal approval.

   Editors vet every submission for accuracy before publication.

   The agency vetted all applicants for security clearance.

   Similarscreen, check, examine, scrutinize, review

   Note

   The verb may have grown from the animal doctor's checkup, which verified an animal's soundness, with the habit of inspection carried over to people, bills and candidates. Yes, Minister played on that link in 1980: told that colleagues had been vetted, Jim Hacker said he thought it was something you do to cats. The verb takes a direct object and doubles its t in vetted and vetting.

2. 2
   nouncolloquialUScountable

   A former soldier or other former member of the armed forces.

   Many vets struggle to find steady work after returning to civilian life.

   He's a decorated vet who rarely talks about the war.

   Similarveteran

   Note

   In American speech this clipping of veteran is the everyday word for a former member of the armed forces. Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man (1952) uses it plainly: "A former soldier, sir. A vet." Where an animal doctor could be meant, the full word veteran prevents a mix-up with the animal-doctor word, which shares the spelling but not the history.

3. 3
   nouncolloquialcountable

   A doctor trained to treat the medical needs of animals.

   The vet recommended a special diet for our aging dog.

   Farmers rely on a good vet to keep their livestock healthy.

   Similarveterinarian

   Note

   Two unrelated words share this spelling, each a clipping of a longer one. Here it is short for veterinarian, while the soldier sense is short for veteran. Context does the sorting: a vet who examines a kitten is an animal doctor. Although it is colloquial, the clipped form is ordinary everyday usage, natural even in news reporting.

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