vanguard
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
Tommy McArdle, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Gerwig, at age 41, represents film culture’s new feminist vanguard; her renown is an extension of the media celebration that established the international activism of Thunberg, now 22.
—Armond White, National Review, 5 Mar. 2025
After a not-too-short hiatus, the Warriors again look like the capital T, capital W Dubs — vanguards of ball and player movement and the smartest team in the NBA.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
At the swansong for a never-ending fashion month, Paris Fashion Week, a new vanguard of midwestern pop girls and swamp princesses made a statement with their glam.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vanguard
Cite this Entry
“Vanguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vanguard. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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vanguard
noun
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"
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