motion picture

noun

1

: a series of still pictures displayed on a screen in rapid succession so as to produce the optical effect of continuous video

2

a

: a representation (as of a story) by means of motion pictures

especially : movie sense 1

starring in a major motion picture

—often used before another noun

a motion picture screen

b

: the business or industry of making movies

—usually used in plural

a bigwig in motion pictures

Synonyms of motion picture

• movie
• moving picture
• film
• documentary

Examples of motion picture in a Sentence

He was given a starring role in a major motion picture.

a popular novel that was made into a major motion picture

Recent Examples on the Web

Humanity has developed a lot of new technologies in the past 150 years—powered flight, automobiles, electric lights, radio, television, the telephone, motion pictures, and more. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025

The film was also honored with Golden Globe Awards for best motion picture (drama) and best director. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025

Among those are classics like Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back which both became award-winning major motion pictures. —Essence, 5 Nov. 2025

The $100 bills look real at first glance, but they are marked as fake and say they are only meant for use in making motion pictures, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Adam Lindhard. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for motion picture

• stricture

Kids Definition

motion picture

noun

1

: a series of pictures projected on a screen rapidly one after another so as to give the appearance of a continuous picture in which the objects move

2

: movie sense 2