vanguard

[ van-gahrd ]
/ ˈvænˌgɑrd /

noun

the foremost division or the front part of an army; advance guard; van.
the forefront in any movement, field, activity, or the like.
the leaders of any intellectual or political movement.
(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.

Origin of vanguard

1480–90; earlier van(d)gard(e) < Middle French avangarde, variant of avant-garde; see avaunt, guard

Words nearby vanguard

Example sentences from the Web for vanguard

British Dictionary definitions for vanguard

vanguard
/ (ˈvænˌɡɑːd) /

noun

the leading division or units of a military force
the leading position in any movement or field, or the people who occupy such a position the vanguard of modern literature

Word Origin for vanguard

C15: from Old French avant-garde, from avant- fore- + garde guard