cinematic

American

[sin-uh-mat-ik] / ˌsɪn əˈmæt ɪk /

adjective

having to do with movies, as either an industry or an art form.

The book explores Andy Warhol's cinematic work, focusing on ten films in detail.
(of a movie) showing a high level of artistry; grand and visually impressive.

This film is filled with sweeping, cinematic shots of the surrounding countryside, to the point where the setting almost becomes a third character.
having qualities or using techniques associated with good movies, such as drama, emotional intensity, visual or sonic artistry, epic narrative, etc..

Poetic and strikingly cinematic, her exquisitely written novel illuminates the strange tightrope we are all walking in the radically altered landscape post-9/11.

noun

(in a video game) a short video or scripted event scene between stages of interactive play, often to introduce a new level, develop a character, or advance the plot.

This year's NHL game has a lot of the same animations, cinematics between faceoffs, commentary tracks, and graphics.

Other Word Forms

cinematically adverb
uncinematic adjective

Etymology

Origin of cinematic

cinemat(ograph) ( def. ) + -ic

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.

Jennifer Hessler, a professor of cinematic arts, said streamers are focused on how “to make their stuff discoverable and win the word of mouth war.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Hooligan is equally audacious, with a rhythm track built from the sound of sharpening knives and snatches of cinematic strings that somehow leads into a dizzying falsetto chorus.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Upcoming projects include the third "Black Panther" film and a new cinematic take on "The X-Files," the 1990s hit sci-fi show about FBI agents investigating the unknown.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

In a quickly changing cinematic and cultural landscape, the Oscars have the power to define what is next.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2026

The Bollywood-ized suburban wedding hall feels pretty cinematic, yet the thought of the awkward social situations to come makes me turn back and look longingly at the doors.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023