adjective / noun · formal
avant-garde
UK/ˌævɑ̃ˈɡɑːd/US/ˌævɑ̃ˈɡɑːrd/a·vant·GARD
experimental or innovative art that breaks with tradition; people or works that are pioneering in style
Examples
“The festival showcases avant‑garde theatre from around the world.”
“Her films are admired by the avant‑garde for their formal risk‑taking.”
“Many critics dismissed the piece as too avant‑garde for mainstream audiences.”
Band 8 sentence
“Her avant‑garde installations deliberately blur the line between audience and performer, provoking discomfort and debate.”
Collocations
- avant‑garde movement
- avant‑garde art
- an avant‑garde filmmaker
Word family
Common mistakes
avantgarde→avant-garde
modern→avant‑garde
new art→avant‑garde
Say it for a higher band
5experimental→6modern→7+avant‑garde
Synonyms
experimental
radical
Easily confused
modern
“Although the piece seems modern, it was actually celebrated by the avant‑garde critics for its formal risks.”
Related words
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In Art & Culture
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