What does "banjo" mean?
A stringed musical instrument (chordophone), usually with a round body, a membrane-like soundboard and a fretted neck, played by plucking or strumming the strings.
Banjo
/ˈbæn.d͡ʒoʊ/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A stringed musical instrument (chordophone), usually with a round body, a membrane-like soundboard and a fretted neck, played by plucking or strumming the strings.
- Grammar: banjo is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: african derived instrument, american folk instrument, archlute, balalaika.
- Usage evidence: A gentleman is someone who knows how to play the banjo and doesn't.
How to use "banjo"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "banjo" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "banjo" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "banjo" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "banjo" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "banjo" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "african derived instrument" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "banjo", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A stringed musical instrument (chordophone), usually with a round body, a membrane-like soundboard and a fretted neck, played by plucking or strumming the strings.
"I come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee..."
- 2 a stringed instrument of the guitar family that has long neck and circular body wordnet
- 3 Any of various similar musical instruments, such as the Tuvan doshpuluur, with a membrane-like soundboard.
- 4 An object shaped like a banjo, especially a frying pan or a shovel. slang
- 5 A cul-de-sac with a round end. UK
"They all came back here — we cleared the room and put up tables for the reception — and then we went to another house on the banjo for a "knees-up"."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A miner's round-nosed shovel.
- 7 An egg sandwich fried on a flattop and served in a bun as would a burger, ellipsis of egg banjo. Malaysia
- 8 The frenulum of the penis. slang, vulgar
Verb
- 1 To play a banjo.
- 2 To beat, to knock down. British, slang, transitive
"Admitting the assault, the husband said that he had given her a 'banjoing' but that she had asked for it."
- 3 To shell or attack (a target). British, slang, transitive
"Riding reported that on the day Mayne had asked for DZ coordinates, their base had been banjoed by the Germans."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play the banjo and doesn't."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "banjo"?
Common synonyms include: african derived instrument, american folk instrument, archlute, balalaika, banjo-uke, banjo-ukulele.
How do you use "banjo" in a sentence?
A gentleman is someone who knows how to play the banjo and doesn't.
How do you pronounce "banjo"?
Pronounced /ˈbæn.d͡ʒoʊ/.
Etymology
From the pronunciation of African slaves, of unknown ultimate origin. Possibly a corruption of bandore (from Spanish bandurria), alternatively from a West African language such as Mandinka banjul, or Kimbundu mbanza.