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

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

From BBC

There was lots of humor and lighthearted banter as well as some sentimental, respectful send-offs to the old guard as the new generation took over.

From Salon

Hope would have seemed absurd as a Biden slogan, not just because of his incumbency but because of his decades-long membership in the old guard of American politics.

From Los Angeles Times

Everts said he hopes that whatever results emerge from the investigations, the agency doesn’t revert to an outmoded focus on imported water that he believes some “old guard” leaders of MWD still favor.

From Los Angeles Times

“Andrew’s two amazing feats are remarkable, something the old guard would never have thought possible,” said 80-year-old climbing legend John Roper.

From Seattle Times