sitar

noun

si·​tar si-ˈtär How to pronounce sitar (audio)
ˈsi-ˌtär
: an Indian lute with a long neck and a varying number of strings
sitarist
si-ˈtär-ist How to pronounce sitar (audio)
ˈsi-ˌtär-
noun

Illustration of sitar

Illustration of sitar

Examples of sitar 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.
Unmistakable jazz music, with, on certain albums, surprising flourishes of oud, sitar, tamboura, and—by far the most distinctive element—her own harp playing. — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 In 1971, The Concert for Bangladesh, an all-star benefit organized by George Harrison of The Beatles and sitar player Ravi Shankar, was held at Madison Square Garden in New York. — ABC News, 13 July 2026 So to reel it in, Pillsbury and his band threw on a sitar — which made the cut on a few songs — and a flute solo. — Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 There was, apparently, a sitar soundtrack. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sitar

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu sitār, from Persian, a three-stringed lute, from sih three + tār string, thread

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sitar was in 1828

Rhymes for sitar

See All Rhymes for sitar

Browse Nearby Words

sitao
sitar
sit around
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sitar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sitar. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sitar

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sitar

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