guitar

noun

gui·​tar gə-ˈtär How to pronounce guitar (audio)
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 noun

Illustration of guitar

Illustration of guitar
  • 1 electric
  • 2 acoustic

Examples of guitar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Simon showcased the introspective song, which comes off his most recent album, Seven Psalms, seated on the guest sofa on the late-night show, with only a microphone and guitar as accompaniment. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024 The biopic will reportedly center around Dylan's controversial transition to the electric guitar and his journey to becoming a folk music legend, per Deadline. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 The show makes an analogy between the body of a guitar and that of a woman, although Pericet dances in a man’s suit, too. Brian Seibert, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 For the waiting-room soundtrack, Simmons played the guitar and synths himself, despite mainly being a banjo guy. John Gravois, WIRED, 18 Mar. 2024 Chad, who is right-handed, could never play the guitar very well. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 Steven Van Zandt: harmony and backing vocals, rhythm and lead guitars, mandolin (1975-1984, 1995, 1999-present). Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024 Reznor took this ambition further still: Individual songs are punctuated by hard-tack changes of direction—from fast, thrashing guitars and punishing drum beats, to moments of slow-burning ambient and piano interludes—becoming the sound of a mind at war with itself. Adam Steiner, SPIN, 8 Mar. 2024 Following them was The Maine, which stunned with lights, guitar solos, and involved crowd work. Candi Bolden, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'guitar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guitar was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near guitar

Cite this Entry

“Guitar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guitar. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

guitar

noun
gui·​tar gə-ˈtär How to pronounce guitar (audio)
: 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 noun
Etymology

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

More from Merriam-Webster on guitar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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