1. (

• vanguard ,
• van

) the leading units moving at the head of an army ;

2. (

• avant-garde ,
• vanguard ,
• van ,
• new_wave ,

) any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts) ;

3. (

• vanguard ,
• forefront ,
• cutting_edge

) the position of greatest importance or advancement; the leading position in any movement or field; "the Cotswolds were once at the forefront of woollen manufacturing in England"; "the idea of motion was always to the forefront of his mind and central to his philosophy" ;