banjo

noun

ban·​jo ˈban-(ˌ)jō How to pronounce banjo (audio)
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
banjoist
ˈban-ˌjō-ist How to pronounce banjo (audio)
noun

Illustration of banjo

Illustration of banjo

Examples of banjo 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.
With string lights draped from the ceiling and backed by horns, the band tore through new and beloved tunes alike over the hour-and-a-half set, which featured a few surprise guests including Dawes, Maddison Cunningham, and Ed Helms, banjo in-hand. — John Lonsdale, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2025 The United States’ musical history is vast, but this is our attempt at a greatest hits, coast-to-coast list of seven cities that move to the beat of their own drum (or twangy banjo or distorted electric guitar . . .). — Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 21 Mar. 2025 The Nineteenth-Century Banjo Derived from an instrument brought to America by enslaved Africans, the banjo experienced a surge of popularity during the New Woman movement of the late 1800s. — JSTOR Daily, 20 Feb. 2025 Welch switches effectively between guitar and banjo. — Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for banjo

Word History

Etymology

probably of African origin; akin to Kimbundu mbanza, a similar instrument

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of banjo was in 1708

Phrases Containing banjo

Rhymes for banjo

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Browse Nearby Words

banjax
banjo
banjo clock
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Cite this Entry

“Banjo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/banjo. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

banjo

noun
ban·​jo ˈban-jō How to pronounce banjo (audio)
plural banjos also banjoes
: a musical instrument with a round body like a drum, a long fretted neck, and four or five strings
banjoist
-ˌjō-ist How to pronounce banjo (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on banjo

Nglish: Translation of banjo for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about banjo

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