cinematic

adjective

cin·​e·​mat·​ic ˌsi-nə-ˈma-tik 

1

: of, relating to, suggestive of, or suitable for movies or the filming of movies

cinematic principles and techniques

cinematic special effects

2

: filmed and presented as a movie

cinematic fantasies

a cinematic adaptation of a novel

cinematically

ˌsi-nə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of cinematic in a Sentence

a director who has produced some great cinematic moments

Recent Examples on the Web

The episode underscores how California candidates in both parties are rushing to the bleeding edge of generative AI, from cinematic deepfake-style attack ads to meme-ready political satire. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Shot over 25 years from 1999 onwards, this cinematic work evolved from an earlier project that resulted in exhibitions and books, which also recorded, in large-format photos, Guile and Beli’s child-to-adult evolution. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026

What surprised us most was the extraordinary ability of the students to embrace the cinematic proposition. — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026

Building to a poignant climax, writer-director Noah Segan’s elegant love letter to both New York and to bygone cinematic eras recalls both the 1970s, with its grungy urban antiheroes, and the 1990s, in its American indie ethos. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see cinema

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cinematic

• achromatic
• acrobatic
• adriatic
• aliphatic
• antistatic
• aromatic
• astigmatic
• autocratic
• automatic
• bureaucratic
• charismatic
• cholestatic