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

Working with her frequent collaborator Evan Wright, McDoom builds her arrangements from nylon-string guitar and voice. — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026

When the track properly kicks in, the guitar strums, drums, and vocals are all present and well-balanced, with no element outshining another. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026

Meanwhile, crash cymbals and electric guitar keep Rowland’s Carolina drawl from drifting too far into a folk sound. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2026

Their official debut, The Womack Sisters, brings analog warmth, tight three-part harmonies anchored by guitar and deep, rubbery basslines. — Natelegé Whaley, VIBE.com, 3 Nov. 2026

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

Rhymes for guitar

• adar
• afar
• ajar
• alar
• alvar
• 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)