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
: of or relating to an avant-garde
avant-garde writers
an avant-garde filmmaker
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
Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 12 Feb. 2026
Born in Lake Placid, N.Y., Curwen graduated from Parsons before cutting his teeth in the studios of New York City’s avant-garde, starting at Area, then cycling through Wiederhoeft, Elena Velez and Jane Wade.
—Ari Stark, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
Julia Fox certainly knows how to pull off an unforgettable look that is equal parts artfully avant-garde and daring.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
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Noun
Other avant-garde theaters existed at the time, most notably Undermain.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 12 Feb. 2026
Born in Lake Placid, N.Y., Curwen graduated from Parsons before cutting his teeth in the studios of New York City’s avant-garde, starting at Area, then cycling through Wiederhoeft, Elena Velez and Jane Wade.
—Ari Stark, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The trio’s mix of jazz standards and original compositions set them apart from other groups, as did their avant-garde leanings and fondness for minor keys.
—Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
Julia Fox certainly knows how to pull off an unforgettable look that is equal parts artfully avant-garde and daring.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
Cite this Entry
“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avant-garde. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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