vanguard

noun

van·​guard ˈvan-ˌgärd 

 also  ˈvaŋ-

1

: the forefront of an action or movement

2

: the troops moving at the head of an army

vanguardism

ˈvan-ˌgär-ˌdi-zəm 

 also  ˈvaŋ-

noun

vanguardist

ˈvan-ˌgär-dist 

 also  ˈvaŋ-

noun

Did you know?

Vanguard comes from Anglo-French avantgarde, from avant, meaning "before," and garde, "guard." In medieval times, avantgarde referred to the troops that marched at the head of the army. In time, vanguard marched its way as a word for the group of people who are the leaders of an action or movement in society, politics, art, etc.

Synonyms

• avant-garde
• cutting edge
• van

Examples of vanguard in a Sentence

a style of jazz that the vanguard quickly recognized as new and exciting

talk radio is often regarded as being in the vanguard of the conservative movement

Recent Examples on the Web

Since Trump fought the 2020 results in Georgia, the state has turned into a kind of vanguard for the national movement to contest elections. —Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024

The country is still run by an insular Leninist vanguard that have lived through a traumatic and intimate lesson in the brittleness of their own power. —Nick Frisch, Foreign Affairs, 17 May 2016

And that was with the financial muscle of the teachers union, which has for more than a decade positioned itself as the progressive vanguard in the city. —Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2024

The Ukrainian 33rd Mechanized Brigade, equipped with up-armored Leopard 2A4 tanks, blasted the Russian vanguard. —David Axe, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vauntgard, borrowed from Anglo-French vantgarde, avantgarde, from avant- "fore-" (from avant "before," going back to Late Latin abante) + garde guard entry 1 — more at advance entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing vanguard

• at the vanguard
• the vanguard

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Kids Definition

vanguard

noun

van·​guard ˈvan-ˌgärd 

1

: the troops moving at the head of an army

2

: the forefront of an action or movement

Etymology

Middle English vauntgard "the troops moving at the head of an army," from early French vantgarde, avantgarde (same meaning), derived from avant- "fore-, in front" and garde "guard"