guitar

noun

gui·​tar gə-ˈtär 

gi-,

 especially Southern and Midland US also  ˈgi-ˌtär

: a flat-bodied stringed instrument with a long fretted neck and usually six strings played with a pick or with the fingers

guitarist

gə-ˈtär-ist 

gi-

noun

Illustration of guitar

• 1 electric
• 2 acoustic

Examples of guitar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scott handled electric guitar duties, while Baker played the banjo. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 11 Dec. 2024

Dylan held his guitar high, and there was no way to wire him in the typical fashion. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 10 Dec. 2024

And her gossamer guitar strums are as faint as whispers, keeping time alongside echoey taps and supple upright bass. —Stephen Kearse, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024

The first surprise song, the guitar one, was … none of these! —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French guitare, from Spanish guitarra, from Arabic qītār, from Greek kithara cithara

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing guitar

• air guitar
• bottleneck guitar
• Hawaiian guitar
• lap steel guitar
• pedal steel guitar
• resonator guitar
• resophonic guitar
• steel guitar

Kids Definition

guitar

noun

gui·​tar gə-ˈtär 

: a stringed instrument with a flat body, a long neck with frets, and usually six strings that are played with the fingers or with a pick

guitarist

-əst 

noun

Etymology

from French guitare "guitar," derived from Arabic qītār (same meaning)