rearguard
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a rear guard.
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designed to oppose or prevent in a defensive way.
a rearguard strategy.
noun
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a detachment detailed to protect the rear of a military formation, esp in retreat
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an entrenched or conservative element, as in a political party
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an action fought by a rearguard
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a defensive action undertaken to try to stop something happening or continuing
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Etymology
Origin of rearguard
First recorded in 1895–1900; attributive use of rear guard
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.
"King George, as you know, never set foot in America. And please rest assured, ladies and gentlemen, I am not here as part of some cunning rearguard action."
From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026
They pushed Arsenal close with their rearguard action at Emirates Stadium last weekend, but still lost in the end.
From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025
The Wallabies were down on the scoreboard but headed into half-time on the up after a rearguard action had kept them within touching distance of the hosts.
From BBC • Nov. 1, 2025
A year ago, Verstappen called his car "a monster" as Red Bull's performance slumped while he tried to fight a rearguard title defence.
From BBC • Sep. 7, 2025
Up the long dusty road they came, mothers protectively herding young ones while fathers provided a rearguard.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
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.
