Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “vanguard” come from?

vanguard (English) comes from Old French avan(t)garde — before guard.

vanguard (English): The leading units at the front of an army or...

Definitions

  1. The leading units at the front of an army or...

Ancestry of “vanguard”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchavan(t)gardebefore guard

Words derived from “vanguard”

  • vanguardism
  • vanguardist
Every word from Old French avan(t)garde →