avant

Avant is a French preposition meaning before or in front of. In English usage it appears mainly as a prefix or in borrowed phrases, with avant-garde being the most well-known. The word derives from Old French avant, ultimately from Latin ante- meaning before.

In the arts and culture, avant signals forward-thinking or experimental aims. The term avant-garde, popularized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, describes artists and movements that seek to challenge established conventions. It has been applied across painting, sculpture, literature, theater, film, and music, often associated with innovation and boundary-pushing ideas.

As a French-derived prefix, avant- forms numerous compounds in English that indicate priority or position ahead of something. Examples include avant-propos, meaning a foreword or preface to a book. The prefix is more common in formal or scholarly language and tends to be less productive in everyday speech.

Avant is also a surname and a given name. It is used as a mononym by some individuals in entertainment and public life. The term’s versatility—linguistic, cultural, and onomastic—reflects its enduring association with being at the forefront.