Old Guard

noun

1. the imperial guard created in 1804 by Napoleon: it made the last French charge at Waterloo.
2. (in the U.S.) the conservative element of any political party, especially the Republican Party.
3. (usually lowercase) the influential, established, more conservative members of any body, group, movement, etc.:

   the old guard of New York society.

old guard

¹

noun

1. a group that works for a long-established or old-fashioned cause or principle
2. the conservative element in a political party or other group

Old Guard

²

noun

1. the French imperial guard created by Napoleon in 1804

Word History and Origins

Origin of Old Guard¹

Translation of French Vieille Garde

Word History and Origins

Origin of Old Guard¹

C19: from Old Guard

Example Sentences

Old guard members of the board began to campaign against Tanton’s proxies.

From Salon

It was a good morning for the old guard.

From Slate

Rubio, a rather conventional Republican, has worked hard to earn Trump's favor and spoke forcefully on his behalf in recent years, but he was not part of his old guard of supporters and is viewed with suspicion by those who are.

From Salon

Unlike most in the old guard and the media, he immediately realised the scene's artistic and cultural importance.

From BBC

In a year where production-line projects from Katy Perry and Jennifer Lopez have failed to connect, she believes the charts are on the cusp of a “Nirvana moment”, where the old guard are swept away by new, authentic voices.

From BBC