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

His band turned the song into a headbanger’s delight; Jay remained steady and regal over the crunching guitar chords and cathartic drum kicks. — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

In addition to playing lead guitar, Gilbert wrote songs and sang backup vocals. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

These California girls had a foot in the Sixties, with their intricate Rubber Soul harmonies and jangly guitars. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

The album version will feature Brian May on guitar – one of the 50 musicians recording tracks. — Fred Bronson, Billboard, 18 Sep. 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)