vanguard meaning and definition

VANGUARD noun

Definition of vanguard (noun)

1. the leading units moving at the head of an army
   • synonyms: van
2. any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
   • synonyms: avant-garde, new wave, van
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"
   • synonyms: cutting edge, forefront