cinematography

noun

cin·​e·​ma·​tog·​ra·​phy ˌsi-nə-mə-ˈtä-grə-fē 

: the art or science of photography in a visual medium (as for movies, television, or video games)

black-and-white cinematography

But most of the cinematography is pedestrian. Many scenes are ridiculously overlit—no doubt because Technicolor was still a glorious new gimmick in 1939.

—Philip Martin

… this film, directed by Cameron Crowe, has better acting, more depth, and also boasts gorgeous cinematography.

—Nancy Gordon

cinematographic

ˌsi-nə-ˌma-tə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

cinematographically

ˌsi-nə-ˌma-tə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of cinematography in a Sentence

The film's cinematography is breathtaking.

Who did the cinematography for this film?

Recent Examples on the Web

Something Beautiful arrives on May 30, and will feature 13 new songs accompanied by more visuals with cinematography by Benoît Debie. —Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 4 Apr. 2025

Great little character moments, pockets of humor (Parker Posey to the rescue) and gorgeous cinematography, sets, and a location to die for (or in, as the case may be). —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

The cinematography falls flat, or the sets look like styrofoam and carelessness, or the editing fails to present a coherent through-line for the action, or the writing whiffs it. —ArsTechnica, 28 Mar. 2025

Demonstrating the rising talent of these teenagers, these shorts encompass thought-provoking scripts, breathtaking and delightful cinematography, rich stop-motion animation, and genre-pushing meditations. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cinematography

• arteriography
• autobiography
• biogeography
• cholangiography
• historiography
• photolithography
• photomicrography
• ultrasonography
• ventriculography
• angiocardiography
• electrocardiography
• arthrography

Kids Definition

cinematography

noun

cin·​e·​ma·​tog·​ra·​phy ˌsin-ə-mə-ˈtäg-rə-fē 

: the art or science of motion-picture photography

cinematographer

-fər

noun

cinematographic

-ˌmat-ə-ˈgraf-ik 

adjective

Medical Definition

cinematography

noun

cin·​e·​ma·​tog·​ra·​phy ˌsin-ə-mə-ˈtäg-rə-fē 

plural cinematographies

: the art or science of motion-picture photography

X-ray fluoroscopic cinematography

cinematographic

-ˌmat-ə-ˈgraf-ik 

adjective

cinematographically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb