rear guard
Medium in technical registers, Low in general usageFormal; often used in military, historical, and figurative contexts
Definition
Meaning
A military unit positioned at the rear to protect against attack, especially during a retreat or movement.
Metaphorically, any defensive effort to protect a position, idea, or institution from being overtaken or defeated.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a defensive or delaying action, often connoting a last stand or conservative resistance to change.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, often spelled as 'rearguard' (one word); in American English, more commonly 'rear guard' (two words) or 'rearguard'.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties, but may be more prevalent in British historical contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English due to historical military usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the rear guard of [army/group]act as (a) rear guardin the rear guardVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rear guard action”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe defensive strategies to protect market share or old business models against new competitors.
Academic
In historical or military studies, discussing tactics; in social sciences, for metaphorical resistance to change.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; occasionally used in sports or games to describe defensive plays.
Technical
In military jargon, refers to specific units or actions; in chess, denotes pieces protecting the king's side.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- a rearguard action
- rearguard tactics
American English
- a rear guard action
- rear guard tactics
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The rear guard keeps the army safe from behind.
- In the game, some players form the rear guard.
- During the retreat, the rear guard protected the main force.
- The company's rear guard action helped avoid losses.
- Historians note that the rear guard played a crucial role in the battle's outcome.
- In business, a rear guard defense can sometimes delay innovation.
- The political party's rearguard action against reform signals a clinging to outdated ideologies.
- Metaphorically, educators fighting standardized testing are waging a rear guard action for creative teaching methods.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'rear' as back and 'guard' as protection, so it's protection at the back of a group.
Conceptual Metaphor
Defense is a shield; Resistance is a rear guard action.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Might be confused with 'тыловой охранение' or 'арьергард', but note that English 'rear guard' has broader figurative uses beyond literal military contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'reargard' without the 'u', or using 'rear guard' as a verb (e.g., 'to rear guard') which is non-standard.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'rear guard'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be written as 'rear guard' (two words) or 'rearguard' (one word), with regional preferences: British English often uses 'rearguard', while American English may use both forms.
Yes, it is commonly used metaphorically in business, politics, and academia to describe defensive efforts against change or competition.
It originates from military terminology, dating back to medieval warfare, where it referred to troops protecting the rear of an army during movement or retreat.
In American English, it is typically pronounced as /ˌrɪr ˈɡɑrd/, with 'rear' rhyming with 'ear' and 'guard' similar to 'card'.