# Avant

/əˈvɑnt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/avant
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. military front

noun · CEFR C1 · Archaic

the front part of an army that moves forward first.

For teachers: The vanguard or foremost division of a military force.

- The scouts rode in the avant to watch for any signs of the enemy.
- The commander positioned his most seasoned cavalry in the avant, ensuring that the initial contact with the opposing line would be met with maximum force.

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.

## 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.