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avant-garde — meaning in English

French → English · translate English → French instead

English meaning

  • avant garde adjective Strikingly new and experimental, especially in art, music, fashion or film, and ahead of what most people are used to.
  • forefront noun The most important or prominent position; the leading edge of something.
  • fringe noun A decorative border of hanging threads or tassels.
  • vanguard noun The foremost part of an advancing army, fleet, or group.

Senses

avant-garde is used for these senses in English:

  • advance guard A unit or units leading the way of advancing or marching troops, guarding them from ambushes, reconnoitering and pursuing the enemy, etc.
  • avant-guard (archaic) The vanguard or advanced body of an army.
  • forefront The leading position or edge.
  • fringe Non-mainstream theatre.

avant garde — full definition

  1. adjective Strikingly new and experimental, especially in art, music, fashion or film, and ahead of what most people are used to.
  2. noun The artists, writers or thinkers whose work breaks with established forms and points the way for others.

Related French words