front line

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a military line formed by the most advanced tactical combat units
b
: an area of potential or actual conflict or struggle
2
: the most advanced, responsible, or visible position in a field or activity

frontline

2 of 2

adjective

front·​line ˈfrənt-ˌlīn How to pronounce frontline (audio)
1
: relating to, being, or involved in a front line
frontline ambulances
2
: first-rate
frontline teachers
also : first-string
a frontline goalie

Examples of front line in a Sentence

Noun These researchers are on the front line of defense against cancer. She has been working on the front lines to educate the poor. Adjective if I'm having brain surgery, I want it done at a frontline hospital
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Carefully driven to the front line by a remote operator seeing what the ’bot’s own front-facing camera sees, the UGV hooks the end of the coil onto existing wire—and then unspools the rest of the coil. David Axe, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025 Ukrainian troops have made marginal gains in Russia's Belgorod region, it has been reported, as a map shows the state of play along the front line. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Retail: While frontline retail positions see high turnover, management roles in this sector remain appealing to career changers. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 The proliferation process would therefore involve a long period of instability because Russia would have an incentive to take preventive military action to stop frontline European states acquiring the weapons to deter it. Mark S. Bell, Foreign Affairs, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for front line

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of front line was in 1677

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Front line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front%20line. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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