vanguard

American  

[van-gahrd] / ˈvænˌgɑrd /

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.

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vanguard British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of vanguard

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

Example Sentences

Scott Hammond, Spaceport chief executive, said the contract strengthened the site's position "at the vanguard of UK vertical space launch".

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

To date, proprietary developers have largely been in the vanguard of creating frontier models.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

“Or do we want to be a party that is leading the vanguard to protect workers and to fight for working families?”

From Salon • Dec. 1, 2025

“It’s one thing for equity markets to suffer a general pullback. But it’s quite another to see stocks at the vanguard of AI development getting trashed,” he added.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have a grave announcement to make. Incredible as it may seem...those strange beings who landed in the Jersey farmlands tonight are the vanguard of an invading army from the planet Mars.”

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow