Synonyms

Old Guard

American

noun

the imperial guard created in 1804 by Napoleon: it made the last French charge at Waterloo.
(in the U.S.) the conservative element of any political party, especially the Republican Party.
(usually lowercase) the influential, established, more conservative members of any body, group, movement, etc..

the old guard of New York society.

old guard ¹ British

noun

a group that works for a long-established or old-fashioned cause or principle
the conservative element in a political party or other group

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Old Guard ² British

noun

the French imperial guard created by Napoleon in 1804

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Old Guard

Translation of French Vieille Garde

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Inside Amazon, DeSantis is seen as a larger-than-life figure, a product of his reputation for technical acumen and his status as one of the last remaining members of the company’s old guard, said people who have worked with him.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is also calculated to get rid of the old guard and bring in fresh faces who can take China’s military to the cutting edge.

From The Wall Street Journal

That convention was also where Jackson forever secured his place within the party’s center with his rousing speech urging its old guard to embrace a broader multicultural spectrum, including the queer community.

From Salon

Figures associated with the "old guard" appear to be regaining more prominence after years of Gaza-dominated decision making, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

From BBC

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party said Friday morning that it had won the majority of seats in parliament and would form the next government, a result that political experts said represented a desire for stability after months of political turmoil, even if it meant voting for the old guard.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023