A concise answer first: a person is typically considered a veteran if they served in the active military, naval, or air service and were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. However, the exact definition can vary by country, program, and purpose (federal vs. state benefits, health care, employment protections, etc.), and some programs have specific service-length or eligibility criteria. Context and nuances

• Federal standard (U.S. focus): The common federal definition anchors on active duty service and a non-dishonorable discharge. There are distinctions for what counts as “active service” and whether certain periods (e.g., National Guard or Reserve service) qualify, as well as waivers for disability or wartime service requirements. Individual benefits programs may impose additional rules.
• Active service components: Core forms include full-time duty in the armed forces, certain commissioned Officer periods, service academy time, and specific prep-to-serve periods. Some benefits require actual active duty rather than reserve stints, while others recognize certain active-duty-like periods.
• Exceptions and clarifications: Some people who were never on continuous active duty may still qualify if their service is recognized as active or if they earned a qualifying disability, Purple Heart, or died in service. Discharges marked dishonorable generally exclude veteran status for most purposes, though some contexts have nuanced exceptions.
• State and local variations: Certain states have their own definitions of a veteran for eligibility to state benefits, which may include minimum service durations or wartime service requirements. Always check the specific program’s criteria.
• Practical steps to confirm status:
  • Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs or your state veterans affairs office.
  • Review the exact eligibility criteria for the program or benefit in question.
  • If in doubt, seek guidance from a veterans service organization or an attorney who specializes in veterans benefits.

If you’d like, specify the country or the particular program (health care, employment protections, educational benefits, etc.), and I can outline the precise criteria and common edge cases relevant to that context.