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
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
When the company abandons its traditional Nutcracker for a childless, avant-garde version — thus denying Harris’s daughter the starring role she’s dreamed of — Harris leaps into action.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2025
At Coachella, hairstylist and creative director Charlie Le Mindu made blonde Cousin It-esque monsters out of Doja Cat’s back-up dancers, in line with his avant-garde, otherworldly hair looks.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
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Noun
The avant-garde group sought to forge a new visual language of — and for — India.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
When the company abandons its traditional Nutcracker for a childless, avant-garde version — thus denying Harris’s daughter the starring role she’s dreamed of — Harris leaps into action.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
His growing curiosity and expertise brought him into the orbit of Chicago’s avant-garde scene.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2025
At Coachella, hairstylist and creative director Charlie Le Mindu made blonde Cousin It-esque monsters out of Doja Cat’s back-up dancers, in line with his avant-garde, otherworldly hair looks.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
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 30 Oct. 2025.
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