1
a
: motion picture
—usually used attributively
b
: a motion-picture theater
2
a
: movies
especially
: the film industry
b
: the art or technique of making motion pictures
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 Sound Of Music turns 60 this year – and Disney has happily opted to celebrate the occasion by remastering the film in 4K resolution and high dynamic range for a worldwide re-release at the cinema and on 4K Blu-ray disc.
—
John Archer, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Their shared belief in the importance of cinema breaks through the screen, contagiously inflicting those watching, striking a hopeful tone to cherish and admire that also prevents the film from appearing earnest and naive.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
In Nouvelle Vague, Marbeck plays the giant of independent cinema (Godard) and is directed by a giant of independent cinema (Linklater).
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Both Hai and Thida’s homes are facing destruction — his pagoda, her cinema — and the consequences of the Cambodian genocide loom large in their present lives.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cinema
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John Archer, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Their shared belief in the importance of cinema breaks through the screen, contagiously inflicting those watching, striking a hopeful tone to cherish and admire that also prevents the film from appearing earnest and naive.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
In Nouvelle Vague, Marbeck plays the giant of independent cinema (Godard) and is directed by a giant of independent cinema (Linklater).
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Both Hai and Thida’s homes are facing destruction — his pagoda, her cinema — and the consequences of the Cambodian genocide loom large in their present lives.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cinema
Cite this Entry
“Cinema.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinema. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
adjective
ˌsin-ə-ˈmat-ik
cinematically
adverb
-i-k(ə-)lē
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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