vanguard Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the leading units moving at the head of an army
    van.
  2. noun any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
    avant-garde; van; new wave.
  3. noun the position of greatest importance or advancement; the leading position in any movement or field
    cutting edge; forefront.
    • 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

WordNet

Van"guard` noun
Etymology
For vantguard, avantguard, F. avant-garde; avant before, fore + garde guard. See Avant, Ab-,Ante-, and Guard, and cf. Advance, Vamp, Van of an army, Vaward.
Definitions
  1. (Mil.) The troops who march in front of an army; the advance guard; the van.

Webster 1913