the old guard
noun
: the usually older members of an organization (such as a political party) who do not want or like change
She's not popular with the old guard.
(US) The old guard is stronger than ever.
(British) The old guard are stronger than ever.
Examples of the old guard in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In jazz, like all artforms, the vanguard can become the old guard in the blink of an eye.
—
Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
Raman and Pratt are right in deeming Bass the old guard of a beat-up city — but the old guard didn’t get there without knowing how to win.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
For the old guard who came up under the gatekeeper model, Jupiter Festival Miami also offers the chance to learn from the best and brightest creators, access key players in the industry who understand the forces at work, and understand how to replicate viral models successfully.
—Caitlin White, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
And the youngest players take over in ways the league has never experienced, the old guard is eager to help them along.
—Dan Robson, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the old guard
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Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
Raman and Pratt are right in deeming Bass the old guard of a beat-up city — but the old guard didn’t get there without knowing how to win.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
For the old guard who came up under the gatekeeper model, Jupiter Festival Miami also offers the chance to learn from the best and brightest creators, access key players in the industry who understand the forces at work, and understand how to replicate viral models successfully.
—Caitlin White, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
And the youngest players take over in ways the league has never experienced, the old guard is eager to help them along.
—Dan Robson, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the old guard
Cite this Entry
“The old guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20old%20guard. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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