cinema

noun

cin·​e·​ma ˈsi-nə-mə 

British also -ˌmä

1

: movie sense 1

—often used before another noun

cinema enthusiasts

2

: a movie theater

go to the cinema

3

: the art, technique, or business of making movies : the motion-picture medium or industry

Synonyms of cinema

• film
• filmmaking
• movie

Examples of cinema in a Sentence

a student of French cinema

We drove by the cinema to see what was playing.

Recent Examples on the Web

For 70 years, the festival has brought really the best of the year in cinema to audiences. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

The live transmission was directed for cinema by Gary Halvorson and hosted by soprano Christine Goerke. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2026

Audiences at the arthouses were predominantly comprised of younger moviegoers, the same demographic driving cinemas’ comeback this year. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026

The award honors her enduring commitment to advancing Brazilian cinema and elevating the international profile of Brazilian film and talent through her work with Projeto Paradiso. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

short for cinematograph

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cinema

• cinema verité
• go to the cinema

Rhymes for cinema

• minima

Kids Definition

cinema

noun

cin·​e·​ma ˈsin-ə-mə 

1

a

: movie sense 2a

a cinema director

b

: a theater for showing movies

went to the cinema

2

a

: the business of making movies

worked in cinema

b

: the art or technique of making movies

a student of French cinema

cinematic

ˌsin-ə-ˈmat-ik

adjective

cinematically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Etymology

derived from French cinématographe "motion picture," from Greek kinēma "movement" and graphe "picture," from kinein "to move" — related to kinetic