avant-garde

1 of 2

noun

ˌä-ˌvän(t)-ˈgärd 

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

ˌä-ˌvän(t)-ˈgär-ˌdi-zəm 

ˌa-

noun

avant-gardist

ˌä-ˌvän(t)-ˈgär-dist 

ˌa-

noun

avant-garde

2 of 2

adjective

: of or relating to an avant-garde

avant-garde writers

an avant-garde filmmaker

Synonyms of avant-garde

Noun

• vanguard
• underground

Adjective

• progressive
• advanced
• unconventional
• pioneering
• avant
• modern
• contemporary
• revolutionary
• underground

Examples of avant-garde in a Sentence

Noun

to the theater world's avant-garde, the melodrama seemed like a very old-fashioned play whose time had come and gone

Adjective

a very avant-garde artist whose works wouldn't even be considered art by many traditionalists

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After London’s avant-garde spirit and Milan’s unmistakable glamour, fashion month arrives at its final stop: Paris Fashion Week. —Amanda Le, InStyle, 9 Mar. 2026

Shopping editor Audrey Lee was drawn to the avant-garde shape of these angular mugs. —Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 6 Mar. 2026

Adjective

While everyone in the Backwoodz Studioz orbit is unorthodox in some way, ELUCID actively pursues the avant-garde. —Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026

In Lohja, almost 40 miles from the Finnish capital of Helsinki, a 365-square-foot sustainable tiny house stands as a matte black, avant-garde response to modern day climate and demographic challenges. —Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for avant-garde

• bodyguard
• boulevard
• disregard
• asgard
• backyard
• barnyard
• blackguard
• bombard
• brickyard
• canard
• churchyard
• coastguard