English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
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 notes

In 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

Word forms

cinematographies plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “cinematography” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

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.

Origin: French

filmmaking § Synonyms

Rhymes for cinematography

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.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial