guitar

noun

gui·​tar gə-ˈtär How to pronounce guitar (audio)
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 noun

Illustration of guitar

Illustration of guitar
  • 1 electric
  • 2 acoustic

Examples of guitar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bobby took after his mother, an amateur actress, in playing a guitar and performing. Bob Thomas The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026 To Kaufman’s surprise, Weir spent several very focused days in the studio, singing, adding new guitar parts, and rebooting the song. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026 Latin-rock pioneer Carlos Santana, who cut his teeth on guitar as a teenager playing in Tijuana nightclubs, will rock on down the highway this summer on a joint tour with his band and fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famers The Doobie Brothers. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026 The band has never sounded this melodic before; Wroth in particular brings a constant dynamism to his guitar solos, often layering two and reaching climaxes that refuse to collapse into just a flurry of notes, building off Phantom Slaughter’s keyboard melodies with a real sense of drama. Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for guitar

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guitar was in 1668

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Guitar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guitar. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

guitar

noun
gui·​tar gə-ˈtär How to pronounce guitar (audio)
: 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 noun
Etymology

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

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