cinema

American  

[sin-uh-muh] / ˈsɪn ə mə /

noun

• cinemas
  plural

1. movies collectively, as an art.

   During the Great Depression, cinema provided psychological comfort, an escape from the harsh realities of daily life.

2. Chiefly British. Also kinema movie theater.

   Do you know if there is a cinema near the British Museum?

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cinema British  

/ ˈsɪnɪmə /

noun

1. 1. a place designed for the exhibition of films

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cinema seat

2. 1. the art or business of making films

   2. films collectively

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cinematic
  adjective
• cinematically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cinemas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cinema

First recorded in 1895–1900; short for cinematograph

Explanation

A cinema is another word for a movie theater. If you love films, you probably spend a lot of time at the cinema. It's more common to say cinema in Britain than in the United States, but any English speaker will know what you're talking about if you ask, "Want to go to the cinema?" You can also use cinema to talk about the film industry and its history: "This is my favorite film in all of American cinema." The word was first used in 1899, from the French cinéma, which was a shortened form of cinématographe, "motion picture projector and camera."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cinema cinemas

That personal connection, combined with Los Angeles's place at the heart of American cinema, made it the ideal home for the project, executive director Tracey Bates told AFP.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

As a longtime keeper of the flame for cinema, what does this moment feel like to you?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

It can also be a potent aspect of documentary cinema.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Nigeria's huge film industry, Nollywood, is in mourning after the death at 66 of veteran actor and star of Yoruba-language cinema Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

The queue for Chariots of Fire snaked down the cinema steps and along the street for eight or ten shops.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

The same year “Rocky Horror Picture Show” hit cinemas in 1975, its Broadway run at the Belasco Theatre shuttered after 45 showings and negative reviews.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

It was not an immediate hit at cinemas but became a fan favourite and holds the record for the longest-running theatrical release in film history.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Over the weekend, a commentary by state-owned Beijing News warned that cinemas risk "losing the trust" of viewers if they "continue to lower their standard" with additional screenings of Niu Lai.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

The couple spent their courtship sharing fun Covid-era activities, like stealing toilet paper, enjoying empty cinemas and stadiums, and taking selfies in front of dumpster fires, all to the tune of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.”

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

I could feel the cool air as I walked by the entrances of the more expensive cinemas, but here I was in the middle of it.

From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan

Related Words

• film
• movie house
• movie theater