vanguard

[ van-gahrd ]

/ ˈvænˌgɑrd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR vanguard ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the foremost division or the front part of an army; advance guard; van.

the forefront in any movement, field, activity, or the like.

the leaders of any intellectual or political movement.

(initial capital letter) Rocketry. a U.S. three-stage, satellite-launching rocket, the first two stages powered by liquid-propellant engines and the third by a solid-propellant engine.

RELATED WORDS

front, leading, lead

Nearby words

vane, vanessa, vanessid, vang, vanga shrike, vanguard, vanguardism, vanhal, vanier, vanilla, vanilla plant

Origin of vanguard

1480–90; earlier van(d)gard(e) < Middle French avangarde, variant of avant-garde; see avaunt, guard

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

Examples from the Web for vanguard

Stasio was just one member of a vast hacking enterprise, the vanguard of a new cyber war.
How the NSA Became a Killing Machine|Shane Harris|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was on the vanguard of domestic policy and created a tremendous amount of legislation that we enjoy today.
Bryan Cranston on Walter White’s Future, Directing ‘Better Call Saul,’ and Hillary 2016|Marlow Stern|August 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the vanguard of the protests has been the galvanizing effect of social media.
Brazil’s World Cup Is An Expensive, Exploitative Nightmare|Vac Verikaitis|May 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At its peak, the group drew 100 members to its weekly meetings and was a vanguard for LGBT advocacy.
Mormon U. Forces Gays to Be Celibate|Emily Shire|May 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This is quite a makeover for the country that once claimed to be the vanguard of worldwide communist revolution.
Paleocons for Putin|James Kirchick|January 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Maybe they marked the vanguard of a big flight that would be in the Mahela when the season opened and maybe they didn't.
Double Challenge|James Arthur Kjelgaard
When his vanguard arrived near Dommarien, it could perceive the hostile army.
History of Julius Caesar Vol. 2 of 2|Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873.
They seem to me in our vanguard because of a sane intelligence, touched with ethical purpose.
Our Part in the Great War|Arthur Gleason
The Southern army was at once ordered forward in pursuit and in the night the vanguard, wading the Rapidan, followed eagerly.
The Sword of Antietam|Joseph A. Altsheler
After a rest of one hour they pushed on at great speed and they did not stop the next day until they saw Colonel Clark's vanguard.
The Border Watch|Joseph A. Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for vanguard

vanguard

/ (ˈvænˌɡɑːd) /

noun

the leading division or units of a military force

the leading position in any movement or field, or the people who occupy such a positionthe vanguard of modern literature

Word Origin for vanguard

C15: from Old French avant-garde, from avant- fore- + garde guard

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