air guitar

American  

noun

1. an imaginary guitar that one pretends to be playing.

   a fan playing air guitar along with the band.

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air guitar British  

noun

1. an imaginary guitar played while miming to rock music

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Other Word Forms

• air guitarist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of air guitar

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

But each one catches your eye with small-scale wonders and charm: Culbreath busting out some air guitar and the Moonwalk, Emily Pietruszka popping like a fierce robot.

From New York Times • Jul. 14, 2023

While teammates pushed hard on their headphones to hear their nonmetal music, Murphy was playing air guitar and drums in between sets of lifts, nodding his head and attacking his workout.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 3, 2023

Not to his adoring public, some of whom likely strummed out some air guitar riffs in parasocial celebration.

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2022

And in 25 minutes, he finished with 27 points, including a pull-up three-pointer he celebrated by playing an air guitar while jogging back on defense.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2021

He’s always asking me if one day we can play a duet, him on air guitar, me on air cello.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman