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, 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.

   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

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Etymology

Origin of multimedia

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

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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

See Examples For:

multimedia

Nearby, at Swoon Art House on the north Broadway corridor of the art district, founder Rebecca DiDomenico stages multimedia installations inside a striking circular building with rammed-earth walls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

Along the way, they reinvented stadium concerts with the Zoo TV tour, whose stage was crammed full of multimedia screens and satellite feeds, while Bono made nightly prank calls to the White House.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

Pirela’s brother Juan Pirela presented Phoenix multimedia news organization Arizona’s Family with Oswaldo’s work permit, which indicated it was issued in 2024 and is valid until 2029.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

These experiences often involve guest participation and are accentuated with advanced multimedia technology and sometimes theatrical elements.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 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

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