vanguard

noun

van·​guard ˈvan-ˌgärd 

 also  ˈvaŋ-

1

: the forefront of an action or movement

2

: the troops moving at the head of an army

vanguardism

ˈvan-ˌgär-ˌdi-zəm 

 also  ˈvaŋ-

noun

vanguardist

ˈvan-ˌgär-dist 

 also  ˈvaŋ-

noun

Did you know?

Vanguard comes from Anglo-French avantgarde, from avant, meaning "before," and garde, "guard." In medieval times, avantgarde referred to the troops that marched at the head of the army. In time, vanguard marched its way as a word for the group of people who are the leaders of an action or movement in society, politics, art, etc.

Synonyms

• avant-garde
• cutting edge
• van

Examples of vanguard in a Sentence

a style of jazz that the vanguard quickly recognized as new and exciting

talk radio is often regarded as being in the vanguard of the conservative movement

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite the theocracy’s crucial role in driving Islamic sectarianism, its aspirations to be a vanguard for all Muslims still define Iran’s self-image. —Reuel Marc Gerecht, WSJ, 30 Oct. 2023

That same year, she was also honored by MTV with the coveted video vanguard award at the VMAs. —Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 2 Nov. 2023

Being honest about challenges, no matter how personal, leads to professional success, write these vanguards of the bring-your-whole-self-to-work movement. —Paige Hagy, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2023

California is often a vanguard for cultural trends, from farm-to-table dining to legal marijuana. —Emily Heil, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2023

Vigorous, original and tuned in to contemporary tastes, the restaurants of the Korean vanguard are strewn around Manhattan from Midtown to TriBeCa, but not one is on the K-town strip of West 32nd Street. —Pete Wells, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2023

The Colombian superstar, who will be honored with the video vanguard award at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, brought along her two sons, Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7, as her dates to the award show. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023

And Massachusetts has really been a vanguard state for this. —Gideon Lichfield, WIRED, 2 Aug. 2023

Amid Latin music’s latest explosion — powered by a concoction of sounds and styles — Carin León, Nicki Nicole and Maria Becerra have emerged as three of the industry’s vanguards. —Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English vauntgard, borrowed from Anglo-French vantgarde, avantgarde, from avant- "fore-" (from avant "before," going back to Late Latin abante) + garde guard entry 1 — more at advance entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing vanguard

• at the vanguard
• the vanguard

• at the vanguard
• the vanguard

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Kids Definition

vanguard

noun

van·​guard ˈvan-ˌgärd 

1

: the troops moving at the head of an army

2

: the forefront of an action or movement

Etymology

Middle English vauntgard "the troops moving at the head of an army," from early French vantgarde, avantgarde (same meaning), derived from avant- "fore-, in front" and garde "guard"