steel guitar

noun

plural steel guitars

: any of various electric or acoustic stringed instruments (such as the Hawaiian guitar, the pedal steel, or the lap steel) that feature a metal resonator or that are played by moving a rigid object (such as a steel or glass bar) against plucked strings

steel guitarist noun

plural steel guitarists

Examples of steel guitar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adapted from colonial Hawaiian steel guitar and adopted by country musicians in the 1950s, the pedal steel is a remarkably versatile instrument. —H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026

Sanderson owns Legend's Corner, The Stage and Second Fiddle, where the cry of a steel guitar and the razzle dazzle of a fiddle are the stars of the shows. —Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Nov. 2025

His guys were bobbing and weaving like the early 2000s Duke Blue Devils; from steel guitar to slide guitar. —Ramon Ramirez, Austin American Statesman, 19 Oct. 2025

Produced by Trent Willmon (Cody Johnson) and David Mescon (Dasha, Megan Moroney, the album’s latticework of fiddle, steel guitar and acoustic guitar nods to the influence of ‘90s and 2000s female country icons such as Shania Twain and Martina McBride. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for steel guitar

• abattoir
• alcazar
• autocar
• avatar
• belshazzar
• caviar
• caviare
• cinnabar
• commissar
• condylar
• deodar
• handlebar