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
Voters want change and are fed up with the old guard in American politics.
—
Amie Parnes, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025
That means Draymond Green, Steve Kerr, and now Jimmy Butler — the old guard and the new, older guy — are leading the way, and the team’s current status of mediocrity is truly unacceptable.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025
The translation was bluntly honest and callously clear: The only way the SEC could build itself into a powerhouse basketball league like the ACC or the Big East would be if the old guard died off and new blood was infused into the league.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025
So some team will be playing for its first tourney championship Saturday night against somebody in the old guard — most likely against No. 1 seed Duke and Cooper Flagg, but possibly someone else.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2025
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Amie Parnes, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025
That means Draymond Green, Steve Kerr, and now Jimmy Butler — the old guard and the new, older guy — are leading the way, and the team’s current status of mediocrity is truly unacceptable.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025
The translation was bluntly honest and callously clear: The only way the SEC could build itself into a powerhouse basketball league like the ACC or the Big East would be if the old guard died off and new blood was infused into the league.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025
So some team will be playing for its first tourney championship Saturday night against somebody in the old guard — most likely against No. 1 seed Duke and Cooper Flagg, but possibly someone else.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2025
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 3 May. 2025.
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