ˌä-ˌvän(t)-ˈgärd 
ˌa-;
ə-ˈvänt-ˌgärd;
ˌa-ˌvōⁿ-ˈgärd,
ˌa-ˌvȯn(t)-ˈgärd
: an intelligentsia that develops new or experimental concepts especially in the arts
the avant-garde in the film industry
: of or relating to an avant-garde
avant-garde writers
an avant-garde filmmaker
Examples of avant-garde in a Sentence
Noun
to the theater world's avant-garde, the melodrama seemed like a very old-fashioned play whose time had come and gone
Adjective
a very avant-garde artist whose works wouldn't even be considered art by many traditionalists
Recent Examples on the Web
Adam Szymczyk, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
The kitchen runs a very cool rotating culinary collaboration with chefs from Rome’s most avant-garde eateries, alongside pop-up events and live music nights.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
New-age has widened to a big-tent genre, evolving from heady subculture to mainstream schlock to avant-garde fascination, and now to chill, low-stakes record collector music.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
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Noun
That regime is also a huge self-learning machine, itself the avant-garde of neoliberal political economy, that seeks to neutralize and recuperate any intention of change almost immediately, turning it into predictable outcome and profit.
—Adam Szymczyk, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
The kitchen runs a very cool rotating culinary collaboration with chefs from Rome’s most avant-garde eateries, alongside pop-up events and live music nights.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Eisenberg’s distinct turn toward folk forms might disappoint diehard fans of their more avant-garde projects, but the gentle tempos and well-rounded melodies of these songs harbor weirdness at their core.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
New-age has widened to a big-tent genre, evolving from heady subculture to mainstream schlock to avant-garde fascination, and now to chill, low-stakes record collector music.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
Cite this Entry
“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avant-garde. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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