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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
<ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0306 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 4 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2020-01-02 </periodOfReport> |
| <notSubjectToSection16> 0 </notSubjectToSection16> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0000103145 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> VECO </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0001251708 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> KIERNAN JOHN P </rptOwnerName> |
| | | </reportingOwnerId> |
| | <reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet1> VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC., </rptOwnerStreet1> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet2> TERMINAL DRIVE </rptOwnerStreet2> |
| | | <rptOwnerCity> PLAINVIEW </rptOwnerCity> |
| | | <rptOwnerState> NY </rptOwnerState> |
| | | <rptOwnerZipCode> 11803 </rptOwnerZipCode> |
| | | <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription> |
| | | </reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | <reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | | <isDirector> 0 </isDirector> |
| | | <isOfficer> 1 </isOfficer> |
| | | <isTenPercentOwner> 0 </isTenPercentOwner> |
| | | <isOther> 0 </isOther> |
| | | <officerTitle> SVP & CFO </officerTitle> |
| | | <otherText></otherText> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2020-01-02 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> A </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 12000 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 0 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> A </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 50592 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <derivativeTable></derivativeTable> |
| <footnotes> |
| | <footnote id="F1"> These shares were acquired pursuant to a restricted stock award under the Veeco Instruments Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") and are subject to certain restrictions. Subject to the reporting person's continued service these restrictions will lapse: i) 20% on the date which is twelve months from the date of grant, ii) 20% on the date which is eighteen months from the date of grant, iii) 20% on the date which is thirty months from the date of grant, iv) 20% on the date which is forty-two months from the date of grant, and v) 20% on the date which is forty-eight months from the date of grant. </footnote> |
| | </footnotes> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> Kirk W. Mackey, Attorney-in-fact </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2020-01-03 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |