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
avant-gard·ist
(¦)ä-ˌvän(t)-ˈgär-ˌdist
¦a-,
ə-ˈvänt-ˌgär-;
¦a-ˌvōⁿ-ˈgär-,
¦a-ˌvȯn(t)-
variants
or less commonly avant-gardiste
(¦)ä-ˌvän(t)-ˌgär-ˈdēst,
¦a-,
ə-ˈvänt-ˌgär-;
¦a-ˌvōⁿ-ˌgär-,
¦a-ˌvȯn(t)-
plural -s
: a member of the avant-garde
Examples of avant-garde in a Sentence
Noun (1)
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
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 27 May 2026
At the same time, a different kind of American designer began reshaping Paris from the avant-garde side.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2026
James Blood Ulmer, the avant-garde jazz, funk, and blues guitarist, died on June 3 at the age of 86, reports NPR.
—Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
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Noun
Richard Mille is no stranger to colorful, avant-garde timepieces.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 27 May 2026
At the same time, a different kind of American designer began reshaping Paris from the avant-garde side.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Adjective
James Blood Ulmer, the innovative guitarist who fused avant-garde jazz with funk and the blues, died on June 3, according to a statement his family published via DownBeat.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2026
James Blood Ulmer, the avant-garde jazz, funk, and blues guitarist, died on June 3 at the age of 86, reports NPR.
—Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 9 June 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 14 Jun. 2026.
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