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

Morello recently unveiled his new Arm the Homeless guitar with Fender — which recreates one of the rocker’s most beloved instruments — with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Los Angeles homeless charities Midnight Mission and Covenant House. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 17 Dec. 2025

His creative talents shine through 13 years of piano study and eight years of guitar, reflecting deep passion and discipline in the arts. —Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025

Selena’s future husband Chris Pérez, played guitar in the band. —Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 13 Dec. 2025

This 39-year-old Swede sings with the gusty verve of Stevie Nicks or Kate Bush, and her arrangements simmer and explode with sax, guitar, and what can only be described as war drums. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 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)