Definitions

1. noun

the part of an army, fleet, etc., that is in front and is the first to be engaged in an attack or battle

“The vanguard of the army pushed forward to scout out the enemy’s position.”

2. noun

a group of people or thing that is at the forefront of a particular movement, activity, or idea

“The vanguard of the environmental movement organized protests to raise awareness about climate change.”

3. noun

a leading or advanced part of a ship’s hull, especially one that is designed to withstand the impact of an iceberg

“The ship’s vanguard was reinforced to prevent damage from icebergs in the Arctic waters.”

4. adjective

used to describe something that is advanced or leading-edge, especially in technology

“The company developed vanguard technology that revolutionized the field of artificial intelligence.”