rearguard
1 of 2adjective
rear·guard ˈrir-ˌgärd 
: of or relating to resistance especially to sweeping social forces
fought a rearguard action against automation
rear guard
2 of 2noun
ˈrir-ˈgärd
-ˌgärd
: a military detachment detailed to bring up and protect the rear of a main body or force
Example Sentences
Adjective The army fought a courageous rearguard action.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Economist, 8 Apr. 2020 The company has been fighting something of a rearguard action against the outcry over its polices, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg appearing in front of Congress earlier this month. Bloomberg.com, 25 Apr. 2018 Indeed, Justice Clarence Thomas continues to fight a rearguard action against the clause as applied to the states. Garrett Epps, The Atlantic, 9 July 2017 The rearguard action was led by the 31-year-old Miller, who has exercised outside influence over the summit's response to the worst refugee crisis since World War II. chicagotribune.com, 26 May 2017 Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2021 The deal struck with the Americans is that the Afghans will be among the last to leave, serving as a rear guard before they are airlifted to freedom. New York Times, 19 Aug. 2021 The stalwarts of yore are dismissed as old media, a feeble rear guard that leads from behind. Paul Blanchard, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2021 But some rear guard enemy elements still were believed inside Seoul. Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2021 According to historical accounts, the battle broke out when Saladin’s forces attacked the enemy’s rear guard. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Aug. 2020 See More
Adjective
Mr Johnson’s Brexit plans have been sidelined in order to fight a rearguard action against a disease that is locking down the country and tanking the economy. The Economist, 8 Apr. 2020 The company has been fighting something of a rearguard action against the outcry over its polices, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg appearing in front of Congress earlier this month. Bloomberg.com, 25 Apr. 2018 Indeed, Justice Clarence Thomas continues to fight a rearguard action against the clause as applied to the states. Garrett Epps, The Atlantic, 9 July 2017 The rearguard action was led by the 31-year-old Miller, who has exercised outside influence over the summit's response to the worst refugee crisis since World War II. chicagotribune.com, 26 May 2017 Noun
Hospitals are really the rear guard, tasked with healing people who were failed by means of prevention. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2021 The deal struck with the Americans is that the Afghans will be among the last to leave, serving as a rear guard before they are airlifted to freedom. New York Times, 19 Aug. 2021 The stalwarts of yore are dismissed as old media, a feeble rear guard that leads from behind. Paul Blanchard, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2021 But some rear guard enemy elements still were believed inside Seoul. Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2021 According to historical accounts, the battle broke out when Saladin’s forces attacked the enemy’s rear guard. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Aug. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle French reregarde, from Old French, from rere + garde guard
First Known Use
Adjective
1898, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1659, in the meaning defined above