First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
vanguard
noun van·guard \ˈvan-ˌgärd also ˈvaŋ-\
: the group of people who are the leaders of an action or movement in society, politics, art, etc.
the vanguard : the soldiers, ships, etc., that are at the front of a fighting force that is moving forward
Full Definition of VANGUARD
1
: the troops moving at the head of an army
2
: the forefront of an action or movement
— van·guard·ism \-ˌgär-ˌdi-zəm\ noun
— van·guard·ist \-dist\ noun
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Origin of VANGUARD
Middle English vauntgard, from Anglo-French vantgarde, avantgarde, from avant- fore- (from avant before, from Late Latin abante) + garde guard — more at advance
Related to VANGUARD
- Synonyms
- cutting edge, van, avant–garde
Rhymes with VANGUARD
Asgard, backyard, barnyard, blackguard, blowhard, boatyard, bombard, boneyard, brassard, brickyard, charge card, churchyard, cloth yard, coast guard, courtyard, dance card, deeryard, die-hard, diehard, discard, dockyard, dooryard, face card, farmyard, fireguard, flash card, foulard, Fugard, Gerard, graveyard, green card, ill-starred, jacquard, junkyard, lifeguard, main yard, mansard, mass card, Midgard, milliard, mudguard, noseguard, off guard, old guard, on guard, Oxnard, phone card, Picard, placard, point guard, postcard, poularde, punch card, rear guard, rearguard, Red Guard, regard, retard, ritard, safeguard, scorecard, shipyard, smart card, sound card, spikenard, steelyard, stockyard, switchyard, tabard, tanyard, tiltyard, time card, unbarred, unguard, vizard, wild card
VANGUARD Defined for Kids
vanguard
noun van·guard \ˈvan-ˌgärd\
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