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retaguardia

rearguard

noun rreh-tah-GWAHR-dyah Rare

Also means

rear

Usage Note

Retaguardia is the military zone or force behind the front line; its antonym is vanguardia. Figuratively it means a supporting or conservative position: quedarse en la retaguardia ('to stay in the background'). The plural retaguardias is regular.

Examples

"Las tropas protegían la retaguardia."

Natural Translation

The troops were protecting the rearguard.

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