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) 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.

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

“The thing that was most interesting to me from the very beginning, is what happens when somebody who is at the vanguard of political radicalism in their youth gets older?”

From Los Angeles Times

He has spent years falsely pretending that America’s cities are crime-infested hellholes, and that the poor migrants selling candy bars on the subway are the violent vanguard of an invading army.

From Slate

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris were at the vanguard in pushing for marriage equality, which will soon be signed into federal law.

From Los Angeles Times

The craft to have been built in the hall include the four Vanguard Class submarines that make up the UK's Trident nuclear programme.

From BBC

Over the past decade, audiences have been leaving legacy news outlets—those established before the digital age, like ABC, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC—in favor of podcasts such as "Bad Faith," "Breaking Points," "The VanGuard," "The Joe Rogan Experience," "The Jimmy Dore Show," "Empire Files," "Useful Idiots" and "The Realignment Podcast."

From Salon