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

The Stray Cats guitarist, 65, penned a heartfelt note to fans on Friday, Feb. 14, revealing on Instagram and X that he was recently diagnosed with an auto-immune disease and cannot play guitar. —Charna Flam, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025

In his laundry room was a Gibson guitar signed by the Everly Brothers; near his fireplace, a white Stratocaster signed to him by Eric Clapton. —Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025

Sink has a punk look and can also be seen in the trailer rocking out on a makeshift, DIY guitar in front of a band of masked horn players. —Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2025

The 50-year-old Mount Pleasant High grad has long been into all kinds of music, including jazz, and has played guitar in local rock bands for several decades. —Adam Bell, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 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

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)