standard-bearers
Those carrying flags
Standard-bearers are those who carry a flag or banner, especially in military contexts where the standard identifies a unit and its position on the battlefield.
The term extends figuratively to leaders of a cause or movement—people who represent and champion a group's values or goals: She became the standard-bearer for progressive reform.
In politics, a party's nominee is often called its standard-bearer.
Contest winners, top performers
- captainsLeaders of ships or teams
- commandersMilitary authority figures
- chiefsTop-ranking leaders
- torchbearersThose carrying lit flames
flagships · figureheads · representatives · spokespersons · ambassadors · advocates · defenders · guardians
Perfect examples of something
- embodimentsConcrete representations of abstractions
- iconsRepresentative small images
- epitomesUltimate representations of types
- archetypesUniversal symbolic patterns
ideals · personifications · benchmarks · touchstones · beacons · hallmarks · avatars · prototypes
Ceremonial banner-bearing unit
- ensignFlag or junior officer
- banner carrierOne who holds aloft emblems
- regimental colorsA unit's official flags
- aquiliferRoman legion's standard-carrier
heraldry · blazon · crest · coat of arms
People others emulate
- mentorsExperienced advisers to learners
- trendsettersThose who initiate popular styles
- tastemakersThose shaping popular preferences
- iconsRepresentative small images
luminaries · inspirations · guides · heroes · idols · gurus · thought leaders · game-changers
Those who open territory
- forerunnersThose preceding others
- pathfindersThose who discover routes
- groundbreakersInnovators who start trends
- innovatorsCreators of novel things
founders · originators · visionaries · first movers · front-runners · precursors · early adopters · revolutionaries
champions
Contest winners, top performers
- captainsLeaders of ships or teams
- commandersMilitary authority figures
- chiefsTop-ranking leaders
torchbearers · flagships · figureheads · representatives · spokespersons · ambassadors · advocates · defenders · guardians · crusaders
paragons
Perfect examples of something
- embodimentsConcrete representations of abstractions
- iconsRepresentative small images
- epitomesUltimate representations of types
archetypes · ideals · personifications · benchmarks · touchstones · beacons · hallmarks · avatars · prototypes · quintessence
color guard
Ceremonial banner-bearing unit
- ensignFlag or junior officer
- banner carrierOne who holds aloft emblems
- regimental colorsA unit's official flags
aquilifer · heraldry · blazon · crest · coat of arms
role models
People others emulate
- mentorsExperienced advisers to learners
- trendsettersThose who initiate popular styles
- tastemakersThose shaping popular preferences
icons · luminaries · inspirations · guides · heroes · idols · gurus · thought leaders · game-changers · mavens
trailblazers
Those who open territory
- forerunnersThose preceding others
- pathfindersThose who discover routes
- groundbreakersInnovators who start trends
innovators · founders · originators · visionaries · first movers · front-runners · precursors · early adopters · revolutionaries · discoverers
- supportersfan, patron, supporters, backers, backer
- trailblazerstrailblazers, pioneers, innovators, groundbreakers, forerunners
- loyal supportersdiehards, loyalists, devotees, die-hard fans, true believers
- servantsbutler, maid, servant, servants, domestics
standard-bearersfollowers
People who support someone
rank and file · foot soldiers · hangers-on · also-rans · subordinates
standard-bearerstraditionalists
Upholders of established customs
conservatives · reactionaries · old guard · stick-in-the-muds · laggards
bear, stand, standing, standard, bearing, standards, withstand, bearer, standardize