the avant-garde
noun /ði ˌævɒ̃ ˈɡɑːd/
/ði ˌævɑ̃ː ˈɡɑːrd/
(from French)- [singular] new and very modern ideas in art, music or literature that are sometimes surprising or shock people
- The theatre shows a lot of avant-garde work.
- [singular + singular or plural verb] a group of artists, etc. who introduce new and very modern ideas
Word Originlate Middle English (denoting the vanguard of an army): from French, literally ‘vanguard’. Current senses date from the early 20th cent.