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

Armed with just a guitar, laptop and fan — ensuring wind blows through Dorsey’s blonde tresses for maximum pop drama — the pair is nothing short of electric onstage. —Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025

The band broke up in 1996 following Nowell’s passing and reformed in 2009 with fan Rome Ramirez taking over vocal/guitar duties, changing their name to Sublime With Rome. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 25 Nov. 2025

Today, Halligan owns Wolf, Jerry Garcia’s famous custom guitar, despite not knowing how to play guitar too much. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025

Join the event for an inspiring holiday tradition—timeless classics and seasonal gems, beautifully reimagined for guitar orchestra. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 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)