cinema

[sin-uh-muh]

noun

1. movies collectively, as an art.

   During the Great Depression, cinema provided psychological comfort, an escape from the harsh realities of daily life.

2. Chiefly British.,  Also kinema movie theater.

   Do you know if there is a cinema near the British Museum?

cinema

/ ˈsɪnɪmə, ˌsɪnɪˈmætɪk /

noun

1. 1. a place designed for the exhibition of films

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cinema seat

2. 1. the art or business of making films

   2. films collectively

Other Word Forms

• cinematic adjective
• cinematically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cinema¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; short for cinematograph

Word History and Origins

Origin of cinema¹

C19 (earlier spelling kinema ): shortened from _{cinematograph}

Example Sentences

“Playing this was an exploration into a cave of the self, into every experience with my father, with my mother, my experience with cinema, my scraped knees when I was 7.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Rising ticket and snack prices mean moviegoers are cutting down on their trips to cinema and moving towards cheaper streaming options.

Read more on BBC

“And now you see that the best films in Iranian cinema these days are made in the way that we got started” — made clandestinely, he means.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Anemone is released in UK cinemas on 7 November.

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It will start screening in US cinemas in December, in time to qualify for the 2026 Oscars race.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• film 
• movie house www.thesaurus.com
• movie theater