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
His characters are often beyond belligerent, and the cinematography can resemble horror films or true-crime dramas.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 28 Nov. 2025
When reading the script, Burn saw — or, perhaps more accurately, heard — what a dynamic ambient soundscape could do to bodily pull viewers into Agnes’s world, if it were paired with the right approach to cinematography.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 Nov. 2025
Sound of Falling, which cross-cuts the stories of four young women growing up on the same small farm in four different generations, was nominated for best casting, cinematography, original score, costume, hair and makeup.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
The editing, the cinematography, the sound, the music.
—Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cinematography
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Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 28 Nov. 2025
When reading the script, Burn saw — or, perhaps more accurately, heard — what a dynamic ambient soundscape could do to bodily pull viewers into Agnes’s world, if it were paired with the right approach to cinematography.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 Nov. 2025
Sound of Falling, which cross-cuts the stories of four young women growing up on the same small farm in four different generations, was nominated for best casting, cinematography, original score, costume, hair and makeup.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
The editing, the cinematography, the sound, the music.
—Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 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 5 Dec. 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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