cinematography
noun
cin·e·ma·tog·ra·phy
ˌsi-nə-mə-ˈtä-grə-fē 
: the art or science of photography in a visual medium (as for movies, television, or video games)
black-and-white cinematography
But most of the cinematography is pedestrian. Many scenes are ridiculously overlit—no doubt because Technicolor was still a glorious new gimmick in 1939.—
Philip Martin
Philip Martin… this film, directed by Cameron Crowe, has better acting, more depth, and also boasts gorgeous cinematography.—Nancy Gordon
Nancy GordonExamples of cinematography in a Sentence
The film's cinematography is breathtaking.
Who did the cinematography for this film?
Recent Examples on the Web
Under Porra’s direction and through Sebastián Cabrera’s painterly cinematography, the film conjures a vivid and haunting portrait of the colonial Caribbean.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
Even with its two hour-plus running time, Franz feels dense but nimble, Tomasz Naumiuk’s cinematography often in motion, or static as the characters flow frenetically from room to room within the frame, especially in the Kafka family home.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
The show’s winners got to use their real filmmaking chops to recreate a fake one, including Adam Newport-Berra, whose cinematography evoked the beauty the show’s comic characters were trying to capture.
—CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Adam Newport-Berra’s sparkling cinematography perfectly captures the highest and lowest economies of Los Angeles, which is nice to see again in all its glory on the movie screen.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cinematography
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Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
Even with its two hour-plus running time, Franz feels dense but nimble, Tomasz Naumiuk’s cinematography often in motion, or static as the characters flow frenetically from room to room within the frame, especially in the Kafka family home.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
The show’s winners got to use their real filmmaking chops to recreate a fake one, including Adam Newport-Berra, whose cinematography evoked the beauty the show’s comic characters were trying to capture.
—CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Adam Newport-Berra’s sparkling cinematography perfectly captures the highest and lowest economies of Los Angeles, which is nice to see again in all its glory on the movie screen.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cinematography
Cite this Entry
“Cinematography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinematography. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cinematography
noun
cin·e·ma·tog·ra·phy
ˌsin-ə-mə-ˈtäg-rə-fē
: the art or science of motion-picture photography
cinematographer
noun
-fər
Medical Definition
cinematography
noun
cin·e·ma·tog·ra·phy
ˌsin-ə-mə-ˈtäg-rə-fē
plural cinematographies
: the art or science of motion-picture photography
X-ray fluoroscopic cinematography
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