avant-garde

1 of 2

noun

ˌä-ˌvän(t)-ˈgärd How to pronounce avant-garde (audio)
ˌa-;
ə-ˈvänt-ˌgärd;
ˌa-ˌvōⁿ-ˈgärd,
ˌa-ˌvȯn(t)-ˈgärd
: an intelligentsia that develops new or experimental concepts especially in the arts
the avant-garde in the film industry
avant-gardism noun
avant-gardist noun

avant-garde

2 of 2

adjective

: of or relating to an avant-garde
avant-garde writers
an avant-garde filmmaker

Examples of avant-garde in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Sometimes, her dad would bring home random recordings with cello on them; a concerto by avant-garde composer Gyorgy Ligeti opened up a fissure in her 11-year-old mind. Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 2024 Tate was really interested in jazz and avant-garde jazz. Tricia Romano, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2024 Instead, the Thai capital is making its name as one of the world’s leading spots for exquisite fine dining, luxury hotels, and avant-garde design. Isabelle Kliger, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Christian Dior’s Bar jacket and black skirt with Ellsworth Kelly’s White Over Black III represent experiments in shape that have become defining examples of avant-garde thinking. Amy Verner, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 And Felix Art Fair has always had the vibe of being the cool kid of art week — billing itself as a contemporary avant-garde affair. The Editors, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 The stage is dominated by what looks like an avant-garde Nordic tiny home placed on a rotating turntable, with walls that switch, as if by magic, from transparent to opaque and back. Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s avant-garde sound collage works, the two Unfinished Music records and Wedding Album, were all unveiled while the Beatles were still a going operation. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024 In a world where the avant-garde meets the ethereal, Susan Fang reigns supreme. Angela Lei, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Since the house’s inception, in 1988, Margiela had been known for an avant-garde mentality, paired with classical technique. Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2023 Instead of showing up in something avant-garde, Dakota drew attention with a black halter-style midi dress with a deep V-neckline. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 18 Mar. 2023 One constant, however, is that her avant-garde ensembles are always about the art of juxtaposition. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2023 By Richard Quinn British fashion designer Richard Quinn is known for his avant-garde creations and bold use of color, so a collaboration with MAC made a whole lot of sense. Lisa Desantis, Allure, 14 Mar. 2023 Active in avant-garde music on the European music scene, Bertelmann frequently employs prepared piano and electronics. Jon Burlingame, Variety, 12 Mar. 2023 The nude, floor-length frock hinted at old Hollywood, perhaps a nod to mom Janet Leigh, but with the avant-garde touch of exterior boning in the corset. Christopher Muther, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Mar. 2023 Mary Bauermeister, a German artist who played a signature role in the development of the freewheeling performance art of the 1960s avant-garde, died on March 2 at a hospice in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. Will Heinrich, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2023 In a city that likes to think of itself as edgy, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra has hardly been in the avant-garde. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 10 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'avant-garde.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

French, vanguard

First Known Use

Noun

1849, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of avant-garde was in 1849

Dictionary Entries Near avant-garde

Cite this Entry

“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avant-garde. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on avant-garde

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!