cinephile

American

[sin-uh-fahyl] / ˈsɪn əˌfaɪl /

noun

a devoted moviegoer, especially one knowledgeable about the cinema.

cinephile British

/ ˈsɪnɪˌfaɪl /

noun

a person who loves films and cinema

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cinephile

1965–70; < French, equivalent to ciné- cine- + -phile -phile

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.

Which company will emerge victorious here…will the biggest loser be the cinephile consumer?

From Slate • Dec. 10, 2025

The centre of the City of Light has the highest density of silver screens in the world per capita and arguably one of the most cinephile local populations.

From Barron's • Nov. 29, 2025

Then again, you certainly don’t have to be a deeply invested cinephile to fall hard for this yarn, because the performances and visuals are captivating in themselves.

From Salon • Sep. 23, 2025

“That might be perfect for a screening,” the cinephile says, underscoring the joy in discovering a movie that is so bad it’s good.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 22, 2025

He says that whilst he commends Rothman's "clever handle" and the cinephile in him values the biopics' "bold statement about the value of cinemas and communal viewing," market realities present cautionary signs.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2025

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