vanguard

noun

van·​guard ˈvan-ˌgärd How to pronounce vanguard (audio)
 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 How to pronounce vanguard (audio)
 also  ˈvaŋ-
noun
vanguardist
ˈvan-ˌgär-dist How to pronounce vanguard (audio)
 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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hezbollah has issued manifestos and open letters since its early years declaring Israel a vanguard of U.S. imperialism and calling for the total destruction of the Jewish state. Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Oct. 2024 Since Trump fought the 2020 results in Georgia, the state has turned into a kind of vanguard for the national movement to contest elections. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024 The country is still run by an insular Leninist vanguard that have lived through a traumatic and intimate lesson in the brittleness of their own power. Nick Frisch, Foreign Affairs, 17 May 2016 And that was with the financial muscle of the teachers union, which has for more than a decade positioned itself as the progressive vanguard in the city. Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vanguard 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of vanguard was in the 15th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near vanguard

Cite this Entry

“Vanguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vanguard. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

vanguard

noun
van·​guard ˈvan-ˌgärd How to pronounce vanguard (audio)
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on vanguard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!