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

Example Sentences

"I will not give up on having a country with the ambition to be at the forefront, to be at the vanguard of Europe," he said on the eve of the strike.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 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

BlackRock, which had a C in 2022 and was once in the vanguard of ESG voting, has vaulted to an A. This year there are 12 B grades, compared to none in 2022.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

“It’s one thing for equity markets to suffer a general pullback. But it’s quite another to see stocks at the vanguard of AI development getting trashed,” he added.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

Whatever was new and exciting—elevators, gas lighting, swimming pools, golf courses—the White Mountain hotels were in the vanguard.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson