vanguard

[ van-gahrd ]

/ ˈvænˌgɑrd /

SEE 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.

Words nearby vanguard

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. 2020

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

vanguard

noun

Words related to vanguard

Words nearby vanguard

Origin of vanguard

Examples from the Web for vanguard

British Dictionary definitions for vanguard

noun

Word Origin for vanguard