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Synonyms

rear guard

American  

noun

  1. a part of an army or military force detached from the main body to bring up and guard the rear from surprise attack, especially in a retreat.

Etymology

Origin of rear guard

1475–85; < Anglo-French reregard, Old French rereguarde

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

McCarthy said that the Consumer Product Safety Commission approved its design for a new rear guard for the product this past quarter.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 23, 2023

"The rear guard repair features a breakaway design that pivots away from the treadmill when it comes into contact with a person or object, shutting off power to the unit and decelerating the belt."

From Reuters • May 18, 2023

Boyd, the company spokesman, said it’s still tying to get the CPSC’s approval for a rear guard — a sign that the treadmill could return to market.

From Washington Post • Jan. 5, 2023

No one thinks these defensive units would have any chance of staving off the Russian army, but military experts say they could form a kind of insurgent rear guard, harassing and disruptive invading forces.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2022

Justin had instantly volunteered for the rear guard.

From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.