English Reference

Word

avant

Phoneticsavant

/əˈvɑnt/

Definition

n. the front part of an army that moves forward first.

n. The vanguard or foremost division of a military force.

Examples

“The avant chapter introduces the main ideas.”

“She read the avant sections of the report before the meeting started.”

“The avant-garde movement challenged traditional artistic norms by prioritizing experimentation over realism.”

Examples

simple

“The avant chapter introduces the main ideas.”

contextual

“She read the avant sections of the report before the meeting started.”

complex

“The avant-garde movement challenged traditional artistic norms by prioritizing experimentation over realism.”

Usage

Usually used with the definite article 'the'.

Teaching tip

This word is rarely used in modern English except in historical literature; students should use 'vanguard' or 'front line' instead.

Synonyms

Antonyms

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated
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Archaic

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English Reference