pedal steel
noun
variants
or pedal steel guitar
plural pedal steels or pedal steel guitars
: a box-shaped electric steel guitar with legs that has usually 10 strings which can be altered in pitch by the use of pedals and which are plucked while being pressed with a movable steel bar
[Ben] Keith broke into the business playing pedal steel on Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces" …—
Kevin Dettmar
compare hawaiian guitar, lap steel
Kevin DettmarExamples of pedal steel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The evening was elevated by live music from a local country band, complete with a pedal steel guitar, reminiscent of Lee Hazlewood.
—Alexandra Genova, TheWeek, 7 Apr. 2026
The instrumentation has grown more conventional as well, with strings and pedal steel heavily represented.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
Hurts Like Hell is Cornfield’s twangiest album yet, thanks in large part to the pedal steel that slinks through its songs, handled like quicksilver by Adam Brisbin.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
Her soft-focus voice is quietly commanding here, backed by the tranquil ambience forged by layers of guitar, mandolin and pedal steel.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pedal steel
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.
Alexandra Genova, TheWeek, 7 Apr. 2026
The instrumentation has grown more conventional as well, with strings and pedal steel heavily represented.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
Hurts Like Hell is Cornfield’s twangiest album yet, thanks in large part to the pedal steel that slinks through its songs, handled like quicksilver by Adam Brisbin.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
Her soft-focus voice is quietly commanding here, backed by the tranquil ambience forged by layers of guitar, mandolin and pedal steel.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pedal steel
Cite this Entry
“Pedal steel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedal%20steel. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
