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retroguardia

rearguard

noun reh-troh-GWAHR-dyah Rare
People & Society Military

Origin: Medieval Latin retroguardia, from retro (behind) + guardia (guard)

Usage Note

Retroguardia is a military term for the troops protecting the rear of an advancing or retreating force, but it is also used figuratively for a conservative faction resisting change (la retroguardia del partito — the party's rearguard). The opposite is avanguardia (vanguard). Feminine singular; plural retroguardie.

Examples

"La retroguardia resistette a lungo."

Natural Translation

The rearguard held out for a long time.

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