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

While the storyline echoes the original attraction, everything from the giant guitar outside to landmarks along the limo ride will get a Muppets touch next year. —Eve Chen, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025

Locals linger over cepelinai and cold beet soup in courtyard bistros, as students gather in Bernardine Gardens, strumming guitars. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Siempre Flamenco founders Paco and Celia Fonta will join the ensemble with their guitar and dance respectively to complete this notable lineup of artists. —Emily Cardenas, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025

The opening performance of three on Friday at Nite ‘N Gale was Liam Sheridan, 16, a Lake Forest High School junior, who played harmonica and an acoustic guitar. —Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for guitar

• adar
• afar
• ajar
• alar
• ansar
• bazaar
• bizarre
• boxcar
• boyar
• bulbar
• cachar
• cigar

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)