avant-garde: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, artistic, academic
Quick answer
What does “avant-garde” mean?
New and experimental ideas or methods, especially in the arts, that challenge traditional forms.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
New and experimental ideas or methods, especially in the arts, that challenge traditional forms.
People, works, or movements that are radically innovative, pushing the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm, often associated with a cultural or intellectual vanguard.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The hyphen is consistently used in both varieties. Pronunciation may differ slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Slightly more associated with highbrow, intellectual art criticism in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both, perhaps slightly higher in UK arts discourse due to historical European art movements.
Grammar
How to Use “avant-garde” in a Sentence
be + considered + avant-gardebe + part of + the avant-gardedescribe + something/someone + as + avant-gardeavant-garde + in + field (e.g., in music)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “avant-garde” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The collective sought to avant-garde the established conventions of theatre. (Extremely rare/poetic use)
American English
- (Standard verb use does not exist. It is not used as a verb.)
adverb
British English
- She composed avant-gardely. (Non-standard, virtually never used)
American English
- (Standard adverb use does not exist.)
adjective
British English
- His avant-garde sculptures were initially met with bewilderment.
American English
- The festival is known for showcasing avant-garde filmmakers.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except metaphorically in phrases like 'avant-garde business strategy' to denote radical innovation.
Academic
Common in art history, cultural studies, musicology, and literary criticism to classify movements and artists.
Everyday
Low frequency. Used by educated speakers discussing arts and culture.
Technical
A standard term in art criticism and theory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “avant-garde”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “avant-garde”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “avant-garde”
- Spelling: 'avangarde', 'avantgarde' (without hyphen). Pronunciation: Stress is on 'garde', not 'avant'. Usage: Using it to mean simply 'modern' or 'trendy' loses its radical, experimental nuance.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not standard to use 'avant-garde' as a verb in English. It functions as a noun or an adjective.
Yes. 'Innovative' simply means introducing new ideas. 'Avant-garde' is stronger, implying a radical break from tradition that challenges and often shocks mainstream taste.
In the common American pronunciation /ˌævɑːnt ˈɡɑːrd/, the 't' is pronounced. In a more French-influenced style, it may be silent, but the pronounced 't' is standard for American English.
While its primary use is in the arts, it can be used metaphorically in other fields (e.g., 'avant-garde technology', 'avant-garde philosophy') to describe radically pioneering work.
New and experimental ideas or methods, especially in the arts, that challenge traditional forms.
Avant-garde is usually formal, artistic, academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “At the avant-garde of something (e.g., at the avant-garde of digital art).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an ADVANCE GUARD of soldiers going AHEAD of the main army. The avant-garde goes ahead of mainstream culture.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARTISTIC INNOVATION IS MILITARY VANGUARD (leading the charge). ARTISTIC PROGRESS IS A JOURNEY (being ahead).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'avant-garde' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?