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

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

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