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

Krumrich travels with his guitar to sessions in Burbank, California. —Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Mustaine, the band’s leading visionary and only original member, is suffering from a hand injury called Dupuytren’s contracture that will eventually claim his singular ability, so Megadeth might be the last album the guitar god is ever capable of making. —Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026

The genre-blending jam band — consisting of Rick Mitarotonda (vocals, guitar), Peter Anspach (vocals, keys, guitar), Trevor Weekz (bass), and Cotter Ellis (vocals, drums) — has announced dates for its 2026 tour. —Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026

Sonically, this fan-favorite from McCollum falls right in his wheelhouse with his muscular vocal picking up the pain and loneliness of the lyrics, bolstered by smooth piano, bass and surging electric guitar. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 26 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)