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Added 9 October 2026

avant-garde

/æˈvɑ̃t.ɡɑːd/ noun

Categories: SocietyObscure Words

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about avant-garde at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

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

adjective

  1. Innovative and pioneering, especially when extremely or obviously so.
    It was a very avant-garde production.

Origin

From Middle English advaunte-garde, avauntgard, from Old French avangarde, avant-garde, avantgarde, from avant (“before; in front”) + garde (“guard”). Doublet of vanguard and vaward

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: originaldaringvanguardfrontlinefrontrunnerfrontierpioneeredgeforefrontbreakthroughleaderabreast

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