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

The duo’s inspiration—from Italian folklore, art, architecture, opera, cinema, religion, and the sheer beauty of their native country—shines through. —Laurie Brookins, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026

Edwards pointed to the role of the Black press in elevating early Black cinema when mainstream newspapers would not. —Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2026

Despite efforts by festival leadership to keep the focus on cinema, the 2026 Berlinale has been defined as much by social media outrage and geopolitical debate as by the films themselves. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026

Shot in Algeria and Jordan, Alkhatib’s follow-up (and first dramatic feature) poses intriguing questions, through both its form and content, about the utility of cinema during genocide. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 21 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