guitar

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

guitarist

2 of 2

noun (2)

gui·​tar·​ist -tärə̇st 

-tȧr-

plural -s

: one who performs on the guitar

Examples of guitar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the case of this 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, guitar great Eric Clapton is included in its provenance. —Howard Walker, Robb Report, 22 June 2026

Basic, an obscure album of oddball electronic rhythms and supremely wobbly guitar released in 1984 by Lou Reed collaborators Robert Quine and Fred Maher. —Jason P. Woodbury, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026

Davis first signed guitar phenom Carlos Santana’s eponymous band in to Columbia in 1969, months before the group’s triumph at Woodstock. —Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 22 June 2026

The group meets every Thursday in a basement, where band members work on vocals, drums, guitars and performance. —Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Noun

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