Main Entry: van·guard

Pronunciation: \ˈvan-ˌgärd also ˈvaŋ-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English vauntgard, from Anglo-French vantgarde, avantgarde, from avant- fore- (from avant before, from Late Latin abante) + garde guard — more at advance

Date: 15th century

1 : the troops moving at the head of an army
2 : the forefront of an action or movement

— van·guard·ism \-ˌgär-ˌdi-zəm\ noun

— van·guard·ist \-dist\ noun