cinephile

noun

cine·​phile ˈsi-nə-ˌfī(-ə)l How to pronounce cinephile (audio)
: a lover of films : a cinema enthusiast

Examples of cinephile in a Sentence

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.
What remains in the movie field skews toward the streaming crowd-pleaser, and television voters, perhaps freed from the cinephile guilt that haunts Oscar season, tend to recognize (and reward) the pics that are flat-out fun to watch. Clayton Davis, Variety, 13 June 2026 Long before set-jetting became a travel trend with a proper name, Lost in Translation made Japan a must-visit for globetrotting cinephiles. Carrie Bell, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 Other movie streaming services, including The Criterion Channel and Mubi, provide a superior collection of classic, indie, and international films for cinephiles. Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026 In turn, many younger cinephiles have translated their newfound love of archival cinema into identity-defining social media content that helps raise awareness about film itself. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cinephile

Word History

Etymology

French cinéphile, from ciné + -phile

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cinephile was in 1929

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cinephile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinephile. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster