- of or relating to a rear guard.
- designed to oppose or prevent in a defensive way: a rearguard strategy.
- a part of an army or military force detached from the main body to bring up and guard the rear from surprise attack, especially in a retreat.
- a detachment detailed to protect the rear of a military formation, esp in retreat
- an entrenched or conservative element, as in a political party
- rearguard action
- an action fought by a rearguard
- a defensive action undertaken to try to stop something happening or continuing
