vanguard

Meaning

1. The leading units at the front of an army or fleet.
2. (broadly) The person(s) at the forefront of any group or movement.

Opposite of

rearguard

Synonyms

avant-garde

van

advance guard

advanced guard

head

front line

forefront

spearhead

first

1st

cutting edge

precursor

new wave

lead

advanced

avantgarde

bellwether

pioneer

tip

pointed end

forerunner

forerunners

forestalling

cusp

front lines

garrison

group

corps

herald

initiative

latest

company

leader

leading edge

command

outpost

outrider

picket

leading level

platoon

post

brigade

predecessors

regiment

scout party

sector

battery

🔋

squad

trip wire

trailblazer

unit

Translations

avant-garde

avanguardia

vanguardia

vanguarda

Vorhut

Spitze

voorhoede

εμπροσθοφυλακή

Avantgarde

avantguarda

αβάν-γκαρντ

πρωτοπορία

Vortrupp

αβανγκάρντ

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈvænˌɡɑɹd/

Etymology

Earlier forms included vandgard and (a)vantgard with or without aphetism, derived from Old French avan(t)garde (“before guard”). Doublet of avant-garde and vaward.