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

In any case, theatrical releases or (re-releases) of popular TV shows are all gravy for cinema operators, who are enjoying the biggest year at the box office since the onset of the pandemic. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026

Kaminski’s hard, contrasty lighting, harsh shadows and drifting smoke owe a debt to German Expressionism and postwar European cinema. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2026

The Alpine Spa Pool offers generous family-friendly hours and children's movies are shown daily in the cinema. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026

Photos in the listing show off the lavish two-story entrance way, gourmet kitchen, large breakfast room, private cinema, en-suite bedrooms, and sprawling lush green gardens. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 7 Nov. 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