vanguard

van·guard

noun \ˈvan-ˌgärd also ˈvaŋ-\

Definition of VANGUARD

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

Examples of VANGUARD

1. <a style of jazz that the vanguard quickly recognized as new and exciting>
2. <talk radio is often regarded as being in the vanguard of the conservative movement>

Origin of VANGUARD

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to VANGUARD

Synonyms: cutting edge, van, avant–garde

Related Words: underground; avant-gardist, forerunner, pioneer, precursor, trailblazer

Near Antonyms: establishment, old guard

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with VANGUARD

Asgard, backyard, barnyard, blackguard, blowhard, boatyard, bombard, boneyard, brassard, brickyard, charge card, churchyard, cloth yard, coast guard, courtyard, dance card, deeryard, die-hard, diehard, discard, dockyard, dooryard, face card, farmyard, fireguard, flash card, foulard, Fugard, Gerard, graveyard, green card, ill-starred, jacquard, junkyard, lifeguard, main yard, mansard, mass card, Midgard, milliard, mudguard, noseguard, off guard, old guard, on guard, Oxnard, phone card, Picard, placard, point guard, postcard, poularde, punch card, rear guard, rearguard, Red Guard, regard, retard, ritard, safeguard, scorecard, shipyard, smart card, sound card, spikenard, steelyard, stockyard, switchyard, tabard, tanyard, tiltyard, time card, unbarred, unguard, vizard, wild card