zither

1 of 2

noun (1)

zith·​er ˈzi-t͟hər  -thər 

: a stringed instrument having usually 30 to 40 strings over a shallow horizontal soundboard and played with pick and fingers

zitherist

ˈzi-t͟hə-rist  -thə- 

noun

Illustration of zither

zitherist

2 of 2

noun (2)

zith·​er·​ist -ərə̇st 

plural -s

: a player on the zither

Examples of zither in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The most expensive musical instrument ever sold at auction is an ancient Chinese Guqin (similar to a zither) from the Song Dynasty (960–1279), which fetched 137 million yuan (US$22 million) at Polyauction (Beijing) in a 2010 Beijing auction. — Mike Hanlon march 22, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026

We were drawn to Laraaji’s organic droning on zither. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2025

There were electric and acoustic guitars — nice ones — to borrow, as well as a drum kit and multiple zithers. — Julia Whelan Emma Kehlbeck Jeremy McLennan, New York Times, 2 May 2025

The sculpture based on a zither—an instrument with strings stretched across a flat box—is a slanted trapezoid with strings running down its back. — Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

German, from Old High German zitara, cithara, from Latin cithara cithara — more at cither

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1831, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for zither

• cither
• dither
• hither
• ither
• slither
• thither
• whither

Kids Definition

zither

noun

zith·​er ˈzit͟h-ər  ˈzith- 

: a stringed instrument with thirty to forty tuned strings that are plucked with the fingers or with a pick