avant-garde

avant-garde, vanguard

noun adjective ah-vahn-GARD Rare

Usage Note

Avant-garde originally referred to the advance military unit scouting ahead of an army, and by the early 20th century became associated with experimental movements in art, literature, and music. As an adjective it is invariable (des oeuvres avant-garde). In French it retains its hyphen and is feminine as a noun.

Examples

"Ce cinéaste fait partie de l'avant-garde européenne."

Natural Translation

This filmmaker belongs to the European avant-garde.

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