avant-garde

Pluralavant-gardes

1. 1
   experimentaladjective

   New and different, trying ideas before others do, especially in a way that is extreme or easy to notice.

   The band's new album sounds very avant-garde, with strange noises instead of songs.

   Her avant-garde clothes made everyone at the party stare.

   Similarunderground

   Oppositeconventional, traditional, conservative, mainstream

   Note
2. 2
   art pioneersnouncountable

   A group of people who create or support new ideas and ways of working, especially in art.

   Many young painters joined the avant-garde because they were tired of old styles.

   The avant-garde in our town meets every month to try out new kinds of music.

   Similarvanguard

3. 3
   army frontnounobsolete

   The part of an army or other armed group that moves at the front, ahead of the rest.

   The avant-garde of the army reached the river first and waited for the others.

   The king put his best riders in the avant-garde to watch for danger.

   Note

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