cinema

noun

cin·​e·​ma ˈsi-nə-mə 

British also -ˌmä

1

: movie sense 1

—often used before another noun

cinema enthusiasts

2

: a movie theater

go to the cinema

3

: the art, technique, or business of making movies : the motion-picture medium or industry

Synonyms of cinema

• film
• filmmaking
• movie

Examples of cinema in a Sentence

a student of French cinema

We drove by the cinema to see what was playing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Espelie says that when Sundance’s move to Boulder was announced, much of the campus, even those outside of the cinema studies program, voiced their excitement. —Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 7 Feb. 2026

Within its walls lies a complete world with its own medical facilities, a cinema, shops, and large replicas of iconic monuments, including the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower. —Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026

One not-to-miss experience would be watching a film in one of the three cinema rooms while munching on Denis Lovatel's pizza and sipping one of the amazing labels from Hugo's cellar. —Maddalena Fossati, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026

The Criterion Channel’s new stunts collection arrives as the motion picture academy prepares to add a long-overdue Oscar category honoring stunt work at the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, a reminder of how much of cinema’s power has been built on risk to life and limb. —Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

short for cinematograph

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cinema

• cinema verité
• go to the cinema

Rhymes for cinema

• minima

Kids Definition

cinema

noun

cin·​e·​ma ˈsin-ə-mə 

1

a

: movie sense 2a

a cinema director

b

: a theater for showing movies

went to the cinema

2

a

: the business of making movies

worked in cinema

b

: the art or technique of making movies

a student of French cinema

cinematic

ˌsin-ə-ˈmat-ik

adjective

cinematically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Etymology

derived from French cinématographe "motion picture," from Greek kinēma "movement" and graphe "picture," from kinein "to move" — related to kinetic