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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."
Synonyms
Examples of vet in a Sentence
David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
As the music vet continued, Ty spoke about women’s safety and opined that there was never a time that ladies felt security or protection in the industry, and Combs’ case is a prime example of this.
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 1 Nov. 2024
William Gavin, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Supplements Supplement use should be individualized and vetted by a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), pharmacist, or healthcare provider.
—Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vet 
Dictionary Entries Near vet
Cite this Entry
“Vet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vet. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vet
1 of 2 nounvet
2 of 2 nounMedical Definition
vet
1 of 2 nounvet
2 of 2 transitive verb
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