cinema
Americannoun
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movies collectively, as an art.
During the Great Depression, cinema provided psychological comfort, an escape from the harsh realities of daily life.
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Chiefly British. Also kinema movie theater.
Do you know if there is a cinema near the British Museum?
noun
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a place designed for the exhibition of films
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( as modifier )
a cinema seat
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the art or business of making films
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films collectively
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Other Word Forms
- cinematic adjective
- cinematically adverb
Etymology
Origin of cinema
First recorded in 1895–1900; short for cinematograph
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I think when you are making a film that is confronting one of the ultimate taboos in cinema, you’re going to have a tough time,” he says.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
The Price of the Vote documentary film, which aired on Thursday evening at a Budapest cinema and on YouTube, presents the results of a six-month investigation by independent filmmakers and reporters.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
The Aster, in Hollywood, grants members entry to its 36-seat cinema and outdoor pool, plus RSVPs to a calendar full of social events.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
Melodrama doesn’t exactly have the most sterling reputation for discerning cinema viewers.
From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026
Goose bumps prickle along my arms as we enter the cinema.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
