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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
Explore stores specializing in items from the 17th to 20th centuries — everything from midcentury modern furniture to avant-garde oil paintings — and others offering design pieces befitting Palm Beach style.
—Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2026
Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
Defense tech adopts the countercultural posture of the avant-garde to shape the reception of military innovation.
—Simon Denny, Artforum, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
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Noun
The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, once an aristocratic mansion, falls somewhere between the avant-garde works at the Reina Sofia and the traditional Spanish art at the Prado.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
Explore stores specializing in items from the 17th to 20th centuries — everything from midcentury modern furniture to avant-garde oil paintings — and others offering design pieces befitting Palm Beach style.
—Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Tubogas presents a necklace and bracelet that fuse aesthetic avant-garde and jewelry design.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
Defense tech adopts the countercultural posture of the avant-garde to shape the reception of military innovation.
—Simon Denny, Artforum, 20 Apr. 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 26 Apr. 2026.
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