vanguard

[van-gahrd]

noun

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

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

3. the leaders of any intellectual or political movement.

4. (initial capital letter),  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.

vanguard

/ ˈvænˌɡɑːd /

noun

1. the leading division or units of a military force

2. the leading position in any movement or field, or the people who occupy such a position

   the vanguard of modern literature

Word History and Origins

Origin of vanguard¹

First recorded in 1480–90; earlier van(d)gard(e), from Middle French avangarde, variant of avant-garde; avaunt, guard

Word History and Origins

Origin of vanguard¹

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

Example Sentences

They are at the vanguard of the sport's professional era, the elite of the three million people who play netball in England at least once a year.

From BBC

Monsta X represents a vanguard of artists whose strong group dynamics strain beyond the milestone that used to be a breaking point for past K-pop groups: South Korea’s mandatory military service.

From Los Angeles Times

“New York City has long been at the vanguard of interfering with enforcing this country’s immigration laws,” the DOJ wrote in the suit.

From Salon

But delegates and party leaders largely argued that the state needs to continue to be on the vanguard of such matters.

From Los Angeles Times

This wispy-bearded Texan is in the vanguard of a movement urging conservatives to relocate to Russia.

From BBC