What does "vanguard" mean?
The leading units at the front of an army or fleet.
Vanguard
/ˈvænˌɡɑɹd/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The leading units at the front of an army or fleet.
- Grammar: vanguard is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: forefront, advance guard, airhead, ancestor.
- Useful contrasts: followers, laggards, rear.
- Usage evidence: The Communist Party is the vanguard of the working class.
How to use "vanguard"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "vanguard" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "vanguard" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "vanguard" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "vanguard" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "vanguard" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "forefront" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "vanguard", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The leading units at the front of an army or fleet.
"They ſay, that the King diuided his Armie into three Battailes; whereof the Vant-guard onely well ſtrengthened with wings, came to fight."
- 2 the position of greatest importance or advancement; the leading position in any movement or field wordnet
- 3 The person(s) at the forefront of any group or movement. broadly
"By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect."
- 4 the leading units moving at the head of an army wordnet
- 5 any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts) wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The Communist Party is the vanguard of the working class."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "vanguard"?
Common synonyms include: forefront, advance guard, airhead, ancestor, announcer, antecedent.
How do you use "vanguard" in a sentence?
The Communist Party is the vanguard of the working class.
How do you pronounce "vanguard"?
Pronounced /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.