avant-garde
UK[ˌævɒ̃ ˈɡɑːd]US[ˌævɑːnt ˈɡɑːrd]
n
a group of people, especially artists, writers, or musicians, whose work is new, experimental, and often shocking to many people
adj
describing such new, experimental, and often shocking ideas or methods in art, music, or literature
Morpheme Breakdown
avant
garde
avant
front
garde
guard
Etymology
the term "avant-garde" is a direct borrowing from french military terminology, where it literally meant the "advance guard" or vanguard—the troops sent ahead of the main army to scout and secure territory. this martial metaphor was adopted into artistic and intellectual discourse in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. it came to symbolize artists and thinkers who break new ground, leading the cultural charge ahead of the mainstream. thus, the literal meaning of being at the "front" of an army evolved into the abstract concept of being at the forefront of innovation and challenging established norms in the arts.
Analysis
Structure: avant (front) + garde (guard)
avant (from old french, meaning "before, in front", ultimately from latin 'abante' meaning "from before"); garde (from old french, meaning "guard, watch, act of guarding", ultimately from germanic origins)
Examples
the composer was considered part of the musical avant-garde.
her avant-garde fashion designs often challenge conventional ideas of beauty.
the film festival is dedicated to showcasing avant-garde cinema from around the world.