avant-garde

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

The vanguard of an army or other force.
Any group of people who invent or promote new techniques or concepts, especially in the arts.

adj

Innovative and pioneering, especially when extremely or obviously so.

Pronunciation

/æˈvɑ̃t.ɡɑːd/ /æˈvɑ̃.ɡɑːd/ /ˌæ.vɑ̃ˈɡɑːd/ /ˈæ.vn̩t.ɡɑːd/ /ˌɑˌvɑntˈɡɑɹd/ /əˌvɑntˈɡɑɹd/ /ˌæ.vɑntˈɡɑɹd/ /ˌɑˌvæntˈɡɑɹd/ /əˌvæntˈɡɑɹd/ /ˌɑˌvɑ̃ˈɡɑɹd/ /ˌæˌvɑ̃ˈɡɑɹd/ en-au-avant-garde.ogg

Word forms

avant-garde avant-gardes avantgarde more avant-garde most avant-garde

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French avant-garde (“vanguard”). Doublet of vanguard and vaward.

Synonyms

remnant vanguard underground

Antonyms

arrière-garde

Related words

leading edge

Derived words

avant-dance avant-garage avant-gardism avant-gardist avantgardist avantgardistic avant-metal avantpop avant-pop transavantgarde

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