celluloid

noun

cel·​lu·​loid ˈsel-yə-ˌlȯid 

1

: a tough flammable thermoplastic composed essentially of cellulose nitrate and camphor

2

old-fashioned : motion-picture film

… a work … making its third appearance on celluloid.

—John McCarten

celluloid adjective

Examples of celluloid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After one take — which is usually not worth the celluloid it’s printed on, as the crew and the artists find their feet — Axl mumbled something about being freaked out and disappeared back into the depths of the building. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026

The switch from celluloid to computer chips saw the movies transform from an illusory art form to a representative one, at the great and continued risk of forfeiting its original power. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

At this year’s San Diego Comic Con, Coogler announced that Black Panther 3 will be shot entirely on large-format celluloid film, a first for Marvel Studios since it was founded in 2008. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Though her work is famously cerebral—and, well, literary—this is far from Virginia’s first celluloid rodeo. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

from Celluloid, a trademark

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for celluloid

• adenoid
• alkaloid
• amoeboid
• amyloid
• aneroid
• arachnoid
• asteroid
• benzenoid
• carcinoid
• coronoid
• humanoid
• mongoloid

Kids Definition

celluloid

noun

cel·​lu·​loid ˈsel-(y)ə-ˌlȯid 

1

: a tough flammable plastic

2

: a motion-picture film

watch a western on celluloid