cinema

noun

cin·​e·​ma ˈsi-nə-mə How to pronounce cinema (audio)
British also -ˌmä
Synonyms of cinemanext
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

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Examples of cinema in a Sentence

a student of French cinema We drove by the cinema to see what was playing.
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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.
Taking on a cinema tech firm like Imax could offer each company a new avenue for distribution. — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 The company adds some 30 to 60 movies to its catalog annually, most of them lost gems of world cinema, festival-circuit darlings, or old Hollywood hits. — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 On Wednesday, NewsCord — a news comparison and media monitoring platform — started a campaign urging cinemas around the world to refuse to screen the film, emailing major chains with the request on behalf of those who register. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 The Boardwalk’s two swimming pools, two helipads, putting green, spa with his- and-hers massage tables, and cinema exude a new money aesthetic. — CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cinema

Word History

Etymology

short for cinematograph

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cinema was in 1909

Phrases Containing cinema

Rhymes for cinema

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Browse Nearby Words

cinefluorographic
cinema
cinemagoer
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Cite this Entry

“Cinema.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinema. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cinema

noun
cin·​e·​ma ˈsin-ə-mə How to pronounce cinema (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on cinema

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cinema

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