Illustration of banjo
banjo
noun
ban·jo
ˈban-(ˌ)jō 
plural banjos also banjoes
: a musical instrument with a drumlike body, a fretted neck, and usually four or five strings which may be plucked or strummed
Examples of banjo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Led by Del McCoury’s distinctive lead tenor and guitar playing, the song also features Rob McCoury on banjo, Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Alan Bartram on bass and Christian Ward laying down an engaging fiddle line.
—
Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
String player Matt Worley often stole the spotlight, making his banjo sound like a mandolin, while cellist Barney Morse-Brown ably covered the bass role, plucking the strings more often than bowing them.
—Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
But as Grammy Award-winning singer, banjo player and composer Rhiannon Giddens has settled into the role of its artistic director, she’s found that there’s more than one path to bring together a global cadre of masters.
—Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
There’s a funny banjo entrance.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Feb. 2026
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Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
String player Matt Worley often stole the spotlight, making his banjo sound like a mandolin, while cellist Barney Morse-Brown ably covered the bass role, plucking the strings more often than bowing them.
—Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
But as Grammy Award-winning singer, banjo player and composer Rhiannon Giddens has settled into the role of its artistic director, she’s found that there’s more than one path to bring together a global cadre of masters.
—Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
There’s a funny banjo entrance.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for banjo
Cite this Entry
“Banjo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/banjo. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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