rear guard
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of rear guard
1475–85; < Anglo-French reregard, Old French rereguarde
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The British suffered heavy casualties—including the death of Braddock—and might well have taken even more damage had Washington not mustered a rear guard and led a fighting retreat.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
"The rear guard repair features a breakaway design that pivots away from the treadmill when it comes into contact with a person or object, shutting off power to the unit and decelerating the belt."
From Reuters • May 18, 2023
In private WhatsApp messages with a special adviser, he said he had to take "rear guard action" to ensure schools did not open, while the then-education secretary was battling to keep children in school.
From BBC • Mar. 2, 2023
Boyd, the company spokesman, said it’s still tying to get the CPSC’s approval for a rear guard — a sign that the treadmill could return to market.
From Washington Post • Jan. 5, 2023
This time the big man led the way and Gerris was the rear guard, with the prince between them.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
