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
Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Case in point: this gala ensemble, which includes pieces from the avant-garde labels Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garçons.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2026
Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 6 Mar. 2026
Records show the avant-garde Los Angeles compound assembled and customized over several decades by the legendary filmmaker, who died in January 2025 at age 78, went to an unnamed buyer for $13 million.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
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Noun
Theme parks are crammed with avant-garde architecture which can interfere with the GPS signals bouncing between drones during a show.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Case in point: this gala ensemble, which includes pieces from the avant-garde labels Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garçons.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Shopping editor Audrey Lee was drawn to the avant-garde shape of these angular mugs.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 6 Mar. 2026
Records show the avant-garde Los Angeles compound assembled and customized over several decades by the legendary filmmaker, who died in January 2025 at age 78, went to an unnamed buyer for $13 million.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 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 17 Mar. 2026.
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