1
a
: motion picture
—usually used attributively
b
: a motion-picture theater
2
a
: movies
especially
: the film industry
b
: the art or technique of making motion pictures
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
The global cinema industry will be discussing these projections and more as Cinema United (formerly The National Association of Theatre Owners) hosts its annual convention in Las Vegas this week.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Mar. 2025
As part of a multiyear licensing deal, The Hollywood Reporter en Español will offer original content highlighting the best in Ibero-American cinema and television for Spanish-speaking readers.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 28 Mar. 2025
The doc will be given a limited theatrical run by Dartmouth Films in around 10 UK cinemas before launching on the BBC in late May.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
Photo : Breed Media Movie Magic When the sun sets, Black Pearl’s mizzen mast projector screen—the largest exterior cinema on any yacht—comes into its own.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cinema
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Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Mar. 2025
As part of a multiyear licensing deal, The Hollywood Reporter en Español will offer original content highlighting the best in Ibero-American cinema and television for Spanish-speaking readers.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 28 Mar. 2025
The doc will be given a limited theatrical run by Dartmouth Films in around 10 UK cinemas before launching on the BBC in late May.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
Photo : Breed Media Movie Magic When the sun sets, Black Pearl’s mizzen mast projector screen—the largest exterior cinema on any yacht—comes into its own.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cinema
Cite this Entry
“Cinema.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinema. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
adjective
ˌsin-ə-ˈmat-ik
cinematically
adverb
-i-k(ə-)lē
Etymology
derived from French cinématographe "motion picture," from Greek kinēma "movement" and graphe "picture," from kinein "to move" — related to kinetic
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