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

Explanation

If you are in the vanguard, you're up front. It could be that you are in the vanguard of an advancing army, or in the vanguard of any movement, trend, or occupation. Vanguard is an old variation of the French word avant-garde meaning "fore-guard" or "front guard." Vanguard and avant-garde have the same basic meaning, but avant-garde generally describes artistic endeavors, while vanguard can be more widely applied. You might talk about the vanguard of fashion on the red carpet, the vanguard of medical research at a university, or the vanguard of a political movement at a demonstration.

Example Sentences

"In being the industry's vanguard we have taken a lot of bullets in a battle which is only in the early days of paying off for ourselves and all developers," Sweeney said.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Allen and her son are at the vanguard of a fast-growing business catering to health-conscious parents.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

The multiyear media rights deal with a sports entertainment entity is the first of its kind for the New York-based AMC, once at the vanguard of cable’s original scripted programming boom in the early 2000s.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 2, 2025

“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

“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