guitar

noun

gui·​tar gə-ˈtär How to pronounce guitar (audio)
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 noun

Illustration of guitar

Illustration of guitar
  • 1 electric
  • 2 acoustic

Examples of guitar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The guitar great’s solo catalog collected 586,000 streams and nearly 800 songs sold over that period, gains of 2,940% and 5,140%, respectively. Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2025 Jeremy Allen White has spoken about his initial hesitation to take the role given his lack of experience singing and playing guitar. Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025 Reid had come to Music City like so many guitar-picking hopefuls. Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025 White was tasked with learning to play guitar and sing like Springsteen in a period of just seven months. Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for guitar

Word History

Etymology

French guitare, from Spanish guitarra, from Arabic qītār, from Greek kithara cithara

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guitar was in 1668

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Guitar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guitar. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

guitar

noun
gui·​tar gə-ˈtär How to pronounce guitar (audio)
: 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 noun
Etymology

from French guitare "guitar," derived from Arabic qītār (same meaning)

More from Merriam-Webster on guitar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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