avant-garde
1 of 2noun
ˌä-ˌvän(t)-ˈgärd 
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
ˌä-ˌvän(t)-ˈgär-ˌdi-zəm
noun ˌa-
avant-gardist
ˌä-ˌvän(t)-ˈgär-dist
noun ˌa-
avant-garde
2 of 2adjective
: of or relating to an avant-garde
avant-garde writers
an avant-garde filmmaker
Synonyms
Noun
- cutting edge
- van
- vanguard
Adjective
- advanced
- avant
- cutting-edge
- progressive
- state-of-the-art
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
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
avant-gardist
noun
as in pioneer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pioneer
- designer
- developer
- groundbreaker
- innovator
- inventor
- forerunner
- trailblazer
- introducer
- avant-garde
- precursor
- originator
- vanguard
- van
- cutting edge
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- establishment
- old guard
- semimat
- semimatt
- semimatte
- semimember
- semimetal
- semimetallic
- semimetals
- semimicro
- semimicroanalysis
- semimicrodetermination
- semiminim
- semiminima
- semiminimas
- semiminims
- semiminor axis
- semimobile
- semimoist
- semimonastic
- semimonocoque
- semimonthlies
- semimonthly
- semimystical
- seminal
- seminal animalcule
- seminal duct