avant-garde

1 of 2

noun

ˌä-ˌvän(t)-ˈgärd How to pronounce avant-garde (audio)
ˌa-;
ə-ˈvänt-ˌgärd;
ˌa-ˌvōⁿ-ˈgärd,
ˌa-ˌvȯn(t)-ˈgärd
: an intelligentsia that develops new or experimental concepts especially in the arts
the avant-garde in the film industry
avant-gardism noun
avant-gardist noun

avant-garde

2 of 2

adjective

: of or relating to an avant-garde
avant-garde writers
an avant-garde filmmaker

Examples of avant-garde in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But what if just the opposite of this heedless obituary for the avant-garde is true? Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 How avant-garde, really, is a group that designs postage stamps? Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 The two shared a love for all things avant-garde and Japanese fashion, and when their paths crossed, the rest was history. Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2024 Her striking makeup looks, avant-garde fashion and authenticity have solidified her as an It girl. Essence, 14 Mar. 2024 The punk and the avant-garde artist started playing together as a band called Delia y los Aminoácidos. Beverly Bryan, SPIN, 14 Mar. 2024 His collections received some attention, though the sartorial theatrics he was known for were tamped down to match the house’s avant-garde approach. Trey Taylor, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 This hybrid form gave them the creative freedom to move between different spaces and cross boundaries in the same way Gray did with her avant-garde work. Lise Pedersen, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 End of carousel Simu Liu Its asymmetrical hem could look avant-garde, but could also look fussy. Rachel Tashjian, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Since the house’s inception, in 1988, Margiela had been known for an avant-garde mentality, paired with classical technique. Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2023 Instead of showing up in something avant-garde, Dakota drew attention with a black halter-style midi dress with a deep V-neckline. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 18 Mar. 2023 One constant, however, is that her avant-garde ensembles are always about the art of juxtaposition. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2023 By Richard Quinn British fashion designer Richard Quinn is known for his avant-garde creations and bold use of color, so a collaboration with MAC made a whole lot of sense. Lisa Desantis, Allure, 14 Mar. 2023 Active in avant-garde music on the European music scene, Bertelmann frequently employs prepared piano and electronics. Jon Burlingame, Variety, 12 Mar. 2023 The nude, floor-length frock hinted at old Hollywood, perhaps a nod to mom Janet Leigh, but with the avant-garde touch of exterior boning in the corset. Christopher Muther, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Mar. 2023 Mary Bauermeister, a German artist who played a signature role in the development of the freewheeling performance art of the 1960s avant-garde, died on March 2 at a hospice in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. Will Heinrich, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2023 In a city that likes to think of itself as edgy, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra has hardly been in the avant-garde. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 10 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'avant-garde.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

French, vanguard

First Known Use

Noun

1849, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of avant-garde was in 1849

Dictionary Entries Near avant-garde

Cite this Entry

“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avant-garde. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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