microfilm

American  

[mahy-kruh-film] / ˈmaɪ krəˌfɪlm /

noun

1. a film bearing a miniature photographic copy of printed or other graphic matter, usually of a document, newspaper or book pages, etc., made for a library, archive, or the like.

2. a film, especially of motion-picture stock, on which microcopies are made.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make a microfilm of.

microfilm British  

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌfɪlm /

noun

1. a strip of film of standard width on which books, newspapers, documents, etc, can be recorded in miniaturized form

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verb

1. to photograph (a page, document, etc) on microfilm

microfilm Cultural  

1. A film on which miniature copies of documents are reproduced. Microfilm allows for very compact storage of books and documents.

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Other Word Forms

• microfilmer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of microfilm

First recorded in 1930–35; micro- + film

Explanation

Microfilm is a miniature photographic reproduction of a document. If you're looking for very old newspapers in the library, you'll probably find them stored on microfilm. Microfilm is exactly what it sounds like: small film. These tiny photographs have to be looked at through a special viewer that magnifies them, but because they're so small, many print documents can fit on one reel of film. Microfilm is a great way for libraries to store many documents in a small space. Even the advent of the internet hasn't made microfilm obsolete — it's still a great way to preserve documents.

Example Sentences

Jim Jaffe, 90 years old, is in the consulting phase of a career that started in his father’s microfilm business and included a private-equity stint in the middle.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

Thanks to “Cosmic Music,” anyone interested in her life and work doesn’t have to go comb through microfilm or ancient magazines to learn more about this unbelievably accomplished and completely fascinating human being.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

“I go to the New York State Library, and I’m able to look on microfilm at the papers of Franklin Roosevelt as governor,” Burgess told me.

From Slate • Nov. 3, 2025

Traditional paint on canvas was often sidelined in favor of modern industrial materials such as poured resin, ground glass, lacquers and microfilm coatings.

From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2024

She returned the box of microfilm to the front desk, thanked the librarian, and walked home in the April sunshine.

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

Related Words

• image
• likeness
• photo
• picture
• portrait
• print
• snapshot