nickelodeon

noun

nick·​el·​ode·​on ˌni-kə-ˈlō-dē-ən How to pronounce nickelodeon (audio)
1
: an early movie theater to which admission usually cost five cents
2

Examples of nickelodeon 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.
By 1908 roughly 8,000 nickelodeons—five‑cent storefront theaters—ran nonstop shows. Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2025 Movies always follow technology — from nickelodeons to iPhones. Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Oct. 2025 The decor includes an old-fashioned nickelodeon as well as a bathroom with Art Deco design. Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025 Budget-friendly movie houses known as nickelodeons became a favorite attraction for urban dwellers in the first two decades of the 20th century. Timeka Tounsel, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for nickelodeon

Word History

Etymology

probably from nickel + -odeon (as in melodeon music hall)

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nickelodeon was in 1888

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Cite this Entry

“Nickelodeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nickelodeon. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

nickelodeon

noun
nick·​el·​ode·​on ˌnik-ə-ˈlōd-ē-ən How to pronounce nickelodeon (audio)
1
: an early movie theater charging five cents for admission
2
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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