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

And then Dave trashes his stacks and throws his guitar into the audience. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025

While the two stayed clear of any political talk, Shore did open up on incorporating a myriad of sounds into Cronenberg’s films, such as jazz in Naked Lunch or electric guitar in Crash. —Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2025

The United States’ musical history is vast, but this is our attempt at a greatest hits, coast-to-coast list of seven cities that move to the beat of their own drum (or twangy banjo or distorted electric guitar . . .). —Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 21 Mar. 2025

The production is lush yet subtle, weaving nylon and 12-string guitars, bass, cello, violin, and other string instruments into a soundscape that elevates her evocative vocals. —Mandeep Rai, Forbes, 21 Mar. 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)