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.
Murland's 2011 book, Retreat and Rearguard 1914, featured the British retreat from Mons in Belgium during the opening weeks of the war.
From The Guardian • Jun. 9, 2013
Rearguard court actions by McKillen, alleging that illegal means were used by the Barclays to secure creeping control over the holding company, have failed.
From The Guardian • Oct. 27, 2012
Dismay in the England ranks, and all hopes lie with the Colly Rearguard once more.
From BBC • Jan. 14, 2010
Why It Failed to Live Up to Its Name A wisecrack much repeated in the U.S. last week was that Project Vanguard, the U.S.'s earth-satellite program, ought to be renamed Project Rearguard.
From Time Magazine Archive
Rearguard the Earl of Leicester took, his viceroy in Aquitaine.
From The Life and Death of Richard Yea-and-Nay by Hewlett, Maurice Henry
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.
