vet

1 of 3

noun (1)

plural vets
: veterinarian
a vet who specializes in equine care
Raven left home for university and is studying to become a vet.Emma Tinson
When the vet gives Freddy a rabies shot, the dog doesn't flinch.Susan Buchsbaum

vet

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural vets
: veteran
military vets
war/combat vets
receives vet benefits
The men they knew there were twenty-nine or thirty years old, and vets of Korea.Mary Ferraro

vet

3 of 3

verb

vetted; vetting; vets

transitive verb

1
a
: to evaluate for possible approval or acceptance
vet the candidates for a position
All our requests for documents were vetted by a woman from the KGB.Orlando Figes
Because organizers know that the success of their fairs is always a function of the quality of the merchandise …, many of them vet the items being sold.Jeffrey Robinson
b
: to subject to usually expert appraisal or correction
vet a manuscript
… the ad agency that vets the show's plot line for authenticity.Mark Harris
He writes his speeches in longhand and often holds them until the last minute so that they cannot be vetted by aides or Government ministers.Howell Raines
I don't care to see Dr. Stopler and have my weaknesses vetted.Richard Ford
2
: to provide veterinary care for (an animal) : to subject (an animal) to veterinary examination
The SCHS works directly with the municipal county shelter by taking animals into our foster care system, fully vetting them and adopting them to forever homes.Steve Rogers
"As a practicing veterinarian many years ago," writes Douglas F. McBride of Washingtonville, N.Y., "I was occasionally called to vet a horse. …"William Safire
vetter noun
plural vetters

Did you know?

A Brief History of the Verb Vet

When we vet a statement for accuracy or vet a candidate for a position, what are we doing, literally? Does the verb have something to do with veteran "a person with long experience," perhaps indicating that the thing or person vetted is proved to be tried and true?

Interestingly, the word is not related to veteran at all, but rather to veterinarian "an animal doctor." That noun was shortened to vet by the mid-19th century and, within decades, gave rise to a verb vet meaning "to subject (an animal) to medical examination." The verb was soon applied to human beings as well, broadening in sense to "to perform a medical checkup on." By the early 20th century, this word took on the figurative meaning that is now most familiar: "to subject a person or thing to scrutiny; to examine for flaws."

Examples of vet in a Sentence

Noun (1) I have to take my dog to the vet. Verb They vetted her thoroughly before offering her the job. The book was vetted by several different editors. He's already vetted the plan, so we can start right away.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
By October, the MTV vet returned to the gym and started swimming again, but Thomas still found himself in pain. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 The market vet correctly called the 2000 and 2008 market crises, and is once again sounding the alarm about what the next decade will look like for investors. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024 Residents said the appointment process must include measures to better vet candidates so the city can avoid further undermining voter confidence. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 How closely did the Arizona Board of Regents vet UA deal with controversial online school? The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 Prominent is a photo of Honey, who lived for seven years in his care, far exceeding the vet’s prognosis, before dying last year. John Leland, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 The animal services department is hiring a full-time vet to spay and neuter the felines before releasing them back into the community. The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 The county contracts with an in-house vet that spays and neuters cats because the animal shelter doesn't have enough resources to provide surgeries themselves. The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 Reporter Rebecca Cohen offers a look at the vets and doctors who made sure the little one arrived safely. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
With the filmmaker's modern muse, Leonardo DiCaprio, and reigning Best Actor winner Brendan Fraser at the center of his new western-tinged thriller, expect signature Scorsese as the Hollywood vet continues pushing boundaries to new frontiers with this Apple streaming venture. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2023 Known for roles in shows like A Chorus Line and Chicago, the 54-year-old Broadway vet is making a personal dream come true with his one-man web series 11 O'Clock Number, which reimagines 12 iconic songs from the Great White Way as a dozen narrative episodes. Janine Rubenstein, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2023 One of Costner’s finest performances as the grizzled vet behind the plate. Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 8 Apr. 2023 In 2017 then-Journal Sentinel columnist Jim Stingl visited Franzke and his wife in their Waukesha home as the vet was filmed for another dance video. Bill Glauber, Journal Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2023 In the space of so much time, the American vet had come to realize the book was not too beautiful to hand over. Megan Burrow and Nhung Nguyen, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2023 Montgomery continued to have little info on either of the vets. Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Mar. 2023 The same vet will be acquainted with particular dogs that may have aroused concern earlier in the race. John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Mar. 2023 The half-hour preshow will hail from The Comedy Store in L.A., with the producers able to secure messages from Cedric the Entertainer, Ice-T, Sir Paul McCartney, Sarah Silverman and The Chris Rock Show vet Wanda Sykes. Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2023
Verb
The State Department is vetting the Kenyan police units to be deployed to make sure they have not been involved in human rights violations. Alex Horton, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 The audience tequila break was indeed sponsored by Don Julio, and it was vetted over a long period of time. Michael Schneider, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 Osha Root Benefits Supplement use should be individualized and vetted by a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), pharmacist, or healthcare provider. Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2024 To find the best teeth whitening products for you, consider these recommendations vetted by dentists. Macaela MacKenzie, Glamour, 29 Feb. 2024 Seven Board of Trustees members will start the process to recruit a new CEO, and Newfields has hired the search firm Koya Partners, which will vet a diverse slate of candidates, Newfields said Thursday in a news release. The Indianapolis Star, 22 Feb. 2024 Regulation needed New rules are needed to hold online retailers accountable for vetting sellers and the product sold by their platforms, according to CR. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024 The process can range from a thorough read-through and vetting by donors or staff to a more complex approach involving pre-screening, site visits, and group discussions. Kris Putnam-Walkerly, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 There is no need to leave your cherished items and valuables in the hands of movers who are not vetted or companies that have not been verified. Chris Gallagher, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1848, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1848, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vet was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near vet

Cite this Entry

“Vet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vet. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vet

1 of 2 noun

vet

2 of 2 noun

Medical Definition

vet

1 of 2 noun

vet

2 of 2 transitive verb
vetted; vetting
1
: to provide veterinary care for (an animal) or medical care for (a person)
2
: to subject (a person or animal) to a physical examination or checkup

More from Merriam-Webster on vet

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