cinema

noun

cin·​e·​ma ˈsi-nə-mə How to pronounce cinema (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once digitized and available, the collection could form one of the most comprehensive archives of Arab cinema anywhere in the world. Essie Assibu, Variety, 16 Nov. 2025 From the outset, cinema was as a play of light and shadow, designed to amuse and impress. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 15 Nov. 2025 Linklater, like many cinephiles, has long held a reverence for the French New Wave — that time when cinema felt young, new, and full of possibilities. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 15 Nov. 2025 Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh will be honored with the Berlin Film Festival‘s Golden Bear in recognition of her outstanding achievements in film and cinema, the festival announced Friday. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cinema

Word History

Etymology

short for cinematograph

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cinema was in 1909

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cinema.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinema. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

cinema

noun
cin·​e·​ma ˈsin-ə-mə How to pronounce cinema (audio)
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

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