old guard
noun
variants
or less commonly Old Guard
1
: the conservative and especially older members of an organization (such as a political party)
2
: a group of established prestige and influence
compare new guard
Examples of old guard in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Political scientist Javier Corrales, who often writes about Venezuelan politics, told CNN that Cabello has long cultivated an aggressive reputation as part of the regime’s old guard.
—
Max Saltman, CNN Money, 19 Nov. 2025
He was chosen as commissioner in October 1989 over New Orleans general manager Jim Finks after a bitter fight highlighting the differences between the NFL's old guard and newer owners.
—NPR, 9 Nov. 2025
Young Democrats come for Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic old guard.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The rapid rise of Mamdani — whose career included a stint as a rapper before his time in Albany — has caught the party’s old guard by surprise.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for old guard
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Max Saltman, CNN Money, 19 Nov. 2025
He was chosen as commissioner in October 1989 over New Orleans general manager Jim Finks after a bitter fight highlighting the differences between the NFL's old guard and newer owners.
—NPR, 9 Nov. 2025
Young Democrats come for Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic old guard.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The rapid rise of Mamdani — whose career included a stint as a rapper before his time in Albany — has caught the party’s old guard by surprise.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for old guard
Cite this Entry
“Old guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old%20guard. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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