Illustration of ukulele
ukulele
noun
uku·le·le ˌyü-kə-ˈlā-lē 
ˌü-
variants or less commonly ukelele
: a small guitar of Portuguese origin popularized in Hawaii in the 1880s and strung typically with four strings
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The New Sunset Strummers, a local ukulele group, will start a beginner class 9 to 10 a.m. 
San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 This year’s festival, held in downtown Aurora on Aug. 21, will feature nearly a dozen performers who use the ukulele prominently in their music. Jeff Banowetz, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2022 Toddlers can do activities like mixing colors and identifying shapes, then move all the way up to teens that can take on projects like building their own ukulele. Raena Loper, Good Housekeeping, 10 Aug. 2022 There is perhaps nothing more delightful than a child playing a ukulele -- except maybe an entire band of them. Beth Mlady, cleveland, 26 May 2022 While other contestants agonized over the bad weather and paltry hunting, Miller built creature comforts like a wooden ukulele and a drum. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 15 July 2022 Lang, director of new works for The Wilbury Theatre Group, strummed his ukulele and talked about the Fringe Festival during the latest edition of the Rhode Island Report podcast. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2022 This year marks the 20th anniversary of Lilo & Stitch (feel old yet?), and Funko is celebrating with a major deal on its classic Stitch ukulele figurine. Tess Garcia, EW.com, 9 July 2022 Like the cover of the soundtrack album, the Elvis spud holds a ukulele and wears a red Hawaiian shirt and yellow lei. Ken Budd, Washington Post, 25 May 2022 See More
San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 This year’s festival, held in downtown Aurora on Aug. 21, will feature nearly a dozen performers who use the ukulele prominently in their music. Jeff Banowetz, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2022 Toddlers can do activities like mixing colors and identifying shapes, then move all the way up to teens that can take on projects like building their own ukulele. Raena Loper, Good Housekeeping, 10 Aug. 2022 There is perhaps nothing more delightful than a child playing a ukulele -- except maybe an entire band of them. Beth Mlady, cleveland, 26 May 2022 While other contestants agonized over the bad weather and paltry hunting, Miller built creature comforts like a wooden ukulele and a drum. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 15 July 2022 Lang, director of new works for The Wilbury Theatre Group, strummed his ukulele and talked about the Fringe Festival during the latest edition of the Rhode Island Report podcast. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2022 This year marks the 20th anniversary of Lilo & Stitch (feel old yet?), and Funko is celebrating with a major deal on its classic Stitch ukulele figurine. Tess Garcia, EW.com, 9 July 2022 Like the cover of the soundtrack album, the Elvis spud holds a ukulele and wears a red Hawaiian shirt and yellow lei. Ken Budd, Washington Post, 25 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Hawaiian ʽukulele, from ʽuku flea + lele jumping
First Known Use
1896, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
ukulele
noun
uku·le·le ˌyü-kə-ˈlā-lē
: a musical instrument like a small guitar with four strings