rearguard

or rear-guard

[reer-gahrd]

adjective

of or relating to a rear guard.

designed to oppose or prevent in a defensive way: a rearguard strategy.

Nearby words

Origin of rearguard

First recorded in 1895–1900; attributive use of rear guard

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rearguard

These would be setbacks, but they would also be rearguard actions that wouldn't hold for long.
The New Abortion Poll and Obama's Biggest Impact|Michael Tomasky|January 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A rearguard action by a determined minority may hold back the tide of history for a while.
How Straight Marriage’s Evolution Led to Obama’s Gay-Marriage Endorsement|Stephanie Coontz|May 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The 42d remained as rearguard to cover the Engineers and burning party.
By Sheer Pluck|G. A. Henty
I thereupon reinforced the rearguard, hitherto consisting of a troop and one Maxim, by an additional half-troop and another Maxim.
The Transvaal from Within|J. P. Fitzpatrick

On the night of August 26th the regiment were rearguard to the retiring First Army.
The Irish at the Front|Michael MacDonagh
A strong division with cannon crossed the river and attacked the batteries which were covering the Southern rearguard.
The Sword of Antietam|Joseph A. Altsheler
Feisal attempted no real resistance, fighting only a rearguard action and withdrawing into the desert.
The New World of Islam|Lothrop Stoddard

British Dictionary definitions for rearguard

rearguard

noun

a detachment detailed to protect the rear of a military formation, esp in retreat

an entrenched or conservative element, as in a political party

rearguard action

an action fought by a rearguard
a defensive action undertaken to try to stop something happening or continuing

Word Origin for rearguard

C15: from Old French rereguarde (modern French arrière-garde), from rer, from Latin retro back + guarde guard; compare vanguard

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012