multimedia

American  

[muhl-tee-mee-dee-uh, muhl-tahy-] / ˌmʌl tiˈmi di ə, ˌmʌl taɪ- /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. the combined use of several media, medium, as sound and full-motion video in computer applications.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or involving the use of multimedia.

2. having or offering the use of various communications or promotional media: medium.

   a multimedia corporation that owns TV stations and newspapers.

multimedia British  

/ ˌmʌltɪˈmiːdɪə /

plural noun

1. the combined use of media such as television, slides, etc, esp in education

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adjective

1. of or relating to the use of a combination of media

   multimedia teaching aids

2. computing of or relating to any of various systems which can manipulate data in a variety of forms, such as sound, graphics, or text

Other Word Forms

• multimedial adjective

Etymology

Origin of multimedia

First recorded in 1960–65; multi- + media ¹

Explanation

Multimedia is a system of relaying information or entertainment that includes many different forms of communication. You might use multimedia to give a presentation at school. Multimedia might include video, audio clips, and still photographs, for example. A newspaper's online presence could use multimedia as well, combining graphics, sound, and animation. The word itself, sometimes spelled with a hyphen as multi-media, has been used since 1962, from multi-, or "many," rooted in the Latin multus, "many or much;" and media, the plural form of medium, or "system of communication."

Example Sentences

A new exhibition 'Bombay Framed' charts the city's shape-shifting passage through the centuries using a stunning array of paintings, photographs and multimedia prints.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Her dioramas, sculptures and large-scale multimedia installations explore the legacy of American slavery, confront racial injustice and celebrate the strength and resiliency of African American women.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

MiniMax, which targets the consumer market with its multimedia AI tools, has seen even stronger gains.

From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026

She graduated from Morgan State University with a degree in multimedia journalism and a Spanish minor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

They kept at arm’s length the multimedia that Terryl feared would foil their engagement with one another, their studies, the real world.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel