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
There’s something earthy about Rogers’s presence (she was brought up in rural Maryland, and played the harp and the banjo as a teen-ager), yet the song’s production is spectral, icy, electronic.
—
Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
What's more, the banjo was prominently featured in degrading blackface minstrel shows.
—Aaron Cohen, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Prince Naveen was shown plucking a banjo, his eyes rolling and blinking in time with his strumming.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
In the documentary, which spawned a Billboard chart-topping soundtrack titled Country Music: A Film by Ken Burns, there is an extensive exploration of the African roots of the banjo and how pivotal the instrument was, in addition to Black and Mexican musicians, in cultivating the genre.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2024
The documentary offers glimpses of what Martin is like as a father: leaving cute video messages, teaching the banjo and making time in his still-busy schedule for his daughter.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
However, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts, Ed Norton ended up stepping in as replacement — and there are pictures of him strumming a banjo to prove it.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2024
The band consists of brothers Scott Avett (banjo, lead vocals, guitar, piano, kick-drum) and Seth Avett (guitar, lead vocals, piano, hi-hat), with Bob Crawford (double bass, electric bass, violin, backing vocals) and Joe Kwon (cello, backing vocals).
—Eric E. Harrison, arkansasonline.com, 15 Mar. 2024
With Garcia on banjo, Rowan playing guitar, and Grisman taking up mandolin duties, the ensemble also featured Kahn on bass.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2024
Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
What's more, the banjo was prominently featured in degrading blackface minstrel shows.
—Aaron Cohen, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Prince Naveen was shown plucking a banjo, his eyes rolling and blinking in time with his strumming.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
In the documentary, which spawned a Billboard chart-topping soundtrack titled Country Music: A Film by Ken Burns, there is an extensive exploration of the African roots of the banjo and how pivotal the instrument was, in addition to Black and Mexican musicians, in cultivating the genre.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2024
The documentary offers glimpses of what Martin is like as a father: leaving cute video messages, teaching the banjo and making time in his still-busy schedule for his daughter.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
However, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts, Ed Norton ended up stepping in as replacement — and there are pictures of him strumming a banjo to prove it.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2024
The band consists of brothers Scott Avett (banjo, lead vocals, guitar, piano, kick-drum) and Seth Avett (guitar, lead vocals, piano, hi-hat), with Bob Crawford (double bass, electric bass, violin, backing vocals) and Joe Kwon (cello, backing vocals).
—Eric E. Harrison, arkansasonline.com, 15 Mar. 2024
With Garcia on banjo, Rowan playing guitar, and Grisman taking up mandolin duties, the ensemble also featured Kahn on bass.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'banjo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Banjo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/banjo. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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