VANGUARD

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does vanguard mean? 

• VANGUARD (noun)
  The noun VANGUARD has 3 senses:

1. the leading units moving at the head of an army

2. any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

3. the position of greatest importance or advancement; the leading position in any movement or field

  Familiarity information: VANGUARD used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VANGUARD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The leading units moving at the head of an army

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

van; vanguard

Hypernyms ("vanguard" is a kind of...):

army unit (a military unit that is part of an army)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

avant-garde; new wave; van; vanguard

Hypernyms ("vanguard" is a kind of...):

art movement; artistic movement (a group of artists who agree on general principles)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The position of greatest importance or advancement; the leading position in any movement or field

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

cutting edge; forefront; vanguard

Context example:

the idea of motion was always to the forefront of his mind and central to his philosophy

Hypernyms ("vanguard" is a kind of...):

perspective; position; view (a way of regarding situations or topics etc.)

 Context examples 

Then we shall march thither, for I would fain have you all back at Dax in time to be in the prince's vanguard.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Never have I seen such locusts as this vanguard of ours.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Yes, for the rascal vanguard have cleared every hen from the country-side.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On the Tuesday there was a bitter frost, and the ground rung like iron beneath the feet of the horses; yet ere evening the prince himself, with the main battle of his army, had passed the gorge and united with his vanguard at Pampeluna.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

For a moment a wild hope came upon them that perhaps the prince had moved more swiftly than had been planned, that he had crossed the Ebro, and that this was his vanguard sweeping to the attack.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The vanguard halted a long bow shot from the hill, and with waving spears and vaunting shouts challenged their enemies to come forth, while two cavaliers, pricking forward from the glittering ranks, walked their horses slowly between the two arrays with targets braced and lances in rest like the challengers in a tourney.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)