vanguard

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 15, 2022 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>vanguard</strong> &#149; \VAN-gahrd\&nbsp; &#149; <em>noun</em><br /> <p><em>Vanguard</em> refers to the forefront of an action or movement. That meaning comes from the word's original sense referring to troops moving at the head of an army.</p> <p>// The manufacturer is in the <em>vanguard</em> of <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green">green</a> technology.</p> <p>// The castle's watchmen spotted the <em>vanguard</em> of approaching cavalry and infantry.</p> <p><a href="[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vanguard](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vanguard)">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>"In the <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gold%20rush">Gold Rush</a>, Northern California attracted prospectors looking for financial independence. Now, this area is at the <em>vanguard</em> of a new movement—people seeking to use only the energy they produce themselves." — Ivan Penn, <em>The New York Times</em>, 13 Mar 2022</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p><em>Vanguard</em> comes from Anglo-French <em>avantgarde</em>, from <em>avant</em>, meaning "before," and <em>garde</em>, "<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guard">guard</a>." In medieval times, <em>avantgarde</em> referred to the troops that marched at the head of the army. In time, <em>vanguard</em> marched its way as a word for the group of people who are the leaders of an action or movement in society, politics, art, etc.</p> <br /><br /> </p> </font>