vanguard
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for vanguard, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The foremost part of an advancing army, fleet, or group.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use vanguard
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French avant-garde, literally "before guard" — the part of a force that goes ahead of the main body. It's a doublet of the French loanword avant-garde, used today for pioneering artists and ideas.
Full origin of vanguard →Frequently asked questions
What does “vanguard” mean?
The word “vanguard” means the foremost part of an advancing army, fleet, or group. In plain terms, the vanguard is whoever or whatever is out in front — leading the charge, whether that's literally an army or figuratively a movement.
How do you pronounce “vanguard”?
“Vanguard” is pronounced VAN-gahd (/ˈvænˌɡɑɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “vanguard” in a sentence?
Here is “vanguard” used in a sentence: “Scouts rode ahead of the vanguard to check the road for ambushes.”
What part of speech is “vanguard”?
“Vanguard” is a noun.
Where does the word “vanguard” come from?
The word “vanguard” comes from Old French. From Old French avant-garde, literally "before guard" — the part of a force that goes ahead of the main body. It's a doublet of the French loanword avant-garde, used today for pioneering artists and ideas.
Is “vanguard” a common word?
“Vanguard” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “vanguard” have?
“Vanguard” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the foremost part of an advancing army, fleet, or group.