cinema

American  

[sin-uh-muh] / ˈsɪn ə mə /

noun

• cinemas
  plural

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?

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cinema British  

/ ˈsɪnɪmə /

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cinematic
  adjective
• cinematically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cinemas
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of cinema

First recorded in 1895–1900; short for cinematograph

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Explanation

A cinema is another word for a movie theater. If you love films, you probably spend a lot of time at the cinema. It's more common to say cinema in Britain than in the United States, but any English speaker will know what you're talking about if you ask, "Want to go to the cinema?" You can also use cinema to talk about the film industry and its history: "This is my favorite film in all of American cinema." The word was first used in 1899, from the French cinéma, which was a shortened form of cinématographe, "motion picture projector and camera."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cinema cinemas

In May 2025, the cinema was declared an Asset of Community Value by Westminster City Council, which grants it additional protections from redevelopment.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

After 21 months of uncertainty, we're delighted to have secured the future of the cinema, and we couldn't have done it without the support, commitment and belief of many, many people.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Skydance-owned Paramount Pictures has taken over the lease for the Bay Theater in Pacific Palisades and intends to reopen the cinema, which has been closed since the January 2025 Palisades fire last year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

Kubrick’s cinema may last forever . . . and ever . . . and ever.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

Girls in sweet shops giggling behind the counter, and girls who gave one programmes in a cinema.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

The launch is part of celebrations marking Zelda's 40th anniversary, alongside a global concert tour and a live-action film hitting cinemas next spring.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

Wicker is released in UK cinemas on October 30.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

As Disney's $71bn buyout of 21st Century Fox in 2019 proved, mega-deals can lead to fewer films in cinemas.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

The peeling facades, faded signs and cavernous auditoriums of such cinemas are remnants of a time when going to the movies was itself the main event.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

They passed book shops and music stores, hamburger restaurants and cinemas, but nowhere that looked as if it could sell you a magic wand.

From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

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Related Words

• film
• movie house
• movie theater

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