vanguard

/ˈvænˌɡɑrd/
noun
  1. The leading position or group in a movement, field, or activity; the forefront of progress or innovation.
    • The company has been in the vanguard of renewable energy research for decades.
    • These artists were the vanguard of a new style of painting in the early 20th century.
    • As a vanguard of social change, the organization pushed for equal rights long before it was popular.
  2. The front part of an advancing army or military force; the soldiers who go ahead of the main group.
    • The vanguard encountered enemy scouts just before dawn.
    • The vanguard scouted the terrain ahead of the main army.
    • General orders placed the most experienced troops in the vanguard.
adjective
  1. Being at the forefront of new developments or ideas; pioneering.
    • She is a vanguard thinker in the field of artificial intelligence.
    • The school's vanguard approach to teaching math has been copied by others.
    • The vanguard technology in the new smartphone amazed everyone.
What does "vanguard" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean