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

Another teaches free guitar lessons to keep kids out of trouble. —Sharon Chin, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026

The musicians in Undercover include Estelle Morales, voice (alum); Hannah Linder, voice; Valentina Koehler, voice; Noah Orlowsky, bass; Sam Greenwald, lead guitar/manager; Ella Arnold, guitar; Christian Barcelata, drums; London Roth, keys/voice; and Arnold Hill, sax/vocals (mentor). —Christina Mayo, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026

Krieger and Densmore, the two surviving members of The Doors, are the backbone of the video, revisiting the signature guitar and drums parts more than a half-century after they were originally laid to wax. —Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026

Dezer’s purchase price of the guitar car hasn’t been announced. —Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 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
• 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)