electric guitar

noun

1. a guitar equipped with electric or magnetic pickups that permit its sound to be amplified and fed to a loudspeaker.

electric guitar

noun

1. an electronically amplified guitar, used mainly in pop music Compare acoustic guitar

Word History and Origins

Origin of electric guitar¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

He was back onstage at the end of the Stills-Young set, joining as one more electric guitar gunslinger on “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

From Los Angeles Times

The young musician hoisted up his first new electric guitar and looked out at his audience.

From Los Angeles Times

This sonic fusion is most apparent in the album’s titular track, which opens with an isolated electric guitar melody reminiscent of early Radiohead before a Spanish guitar enters the mix.

From Los Angeles Times

In the process, he played a major role in establishing electric guitar as the predominant musical instrument in rock ’n’ roll.

From New York Times

Thirty minutes long, and scored for a big orchestra, countertenor soloist, children’s choir, broad battery of percussion, electric guitar and pair of synthesizers, “Hippogriff” is not so easily dismissed.

From New York Times