Vanguard (Noun)
Meaning 1
Any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts).
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
The leading units moving at the head of an army.
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The cavalry regiment formed the vanguard of the advancing army, scouting ahead for enemy positions and clearing the way for the infantry.
- As the vanguard of the invasion force, the marines were tasked with securing the beachhead and establishing a foothold on the enemy's shore.
- The vanguard of the Roman legions marched into Gaul, followed closely by the bulk of the army, as they expanded the empire's borders.
- General Lee's vanguard clashed with the Union cavalry in a series of skirmishes along the river, testing the enemy's defenses and probing for weaknesses.
- The knights, mounted on heavy warhorses and clad in armor, charged forward as the vanguard of the Crusader army, their banners waving in the wind.
Synonyms
Meaning 3
The position of greatest importance or advancement; the leading position in any movement or field; "the Cotswolds were once at the forefront of woollen manufacturing in England"; "the idea of motion was always to the forefront of his mind and central to his philosophy".
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The scientists at the research institute were at the vanguard of a new medical breakthrough, leading the way for future treatments.
- As a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence, she was considered the vanguard of a new generation of innovators.
- The city's avant-garde art scene was at the vanguard of a cultural revolution, pushing the boundaries of creativity and self-expression.
- The company's commitment to sustainability put them at the vanguard of the environmental movement, inspiring others to follow their lead.
- The groundbreaking novel was at the vanguard of a new literary movement, exploring themes and styles that had never been seen before.