noun
C2
Proficient
cinematography
sihn-uh-muh-TOG-ruh-fee
Cinematography (noun) means the art and technique of shooting and lighting scenes for film or video. Example: “The movie won an award for its stunning cinematography.”
noun
1
The art and technique of shooting and lighting scenes for film or video.
"The movie won an award for its stunning cinematography."
"She studied cinematography before becoming a director of photography."
How to use cinematography
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe craft of filming — camera work, lighting, and framing — that gives a movie its visual style.
Common pairings
stunning cinematography
director of cinematography
study cinematography
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Word forms
- Plural
- cinematographies
Fill the gap
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The movie won an award for its stunning _____.
Etymology
From "cinematograph" (an early word for a movie camera/projector) plus the suffix "-y", echoing the French cinématographie.
Synonyms
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filming
filmmaking § Synonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cinematography
geography
biography
demography
tomography
ideography
topography
lithography
iconography
mammography
discography
paleography
photography
See all rhymes for cinematography →
Frequently asked questions
What does “cinematography” mean?
The word “cinematography” means the art and technique of shooting and lighting scenes for film or video. In plain terms, the craft of filming — camera work, lighting, and framing — that gives a movie its visual style.
How do you pronounce “cinematography”?
“Cinematography” is pronounced sihn-uh-muh-TOG-ruh-fee (/ˌsɪn.ə.məˈtɒɡ.ɹə.fiː/ in IPA).
How do you use “cinematography” in a sentence?
Here is “cinematography” used in a sentence: “The movie won an award for its stunning cinematography.”
What is another word for “cinematography”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cinematography” include filmmaking § Synonyms.
What part of speech is “cinematography”?
“Cinematography” is a noun.
Where does the word “cinematography” come from?
The word “cinematography” comes from French. From "cinematograph" (an early word for a movie camera/projector) plus the suffix "-y", echoing the French cinématographie.
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