noun

matinee

MA-tih-nay

Matinee (noun) means a performance of a film, play, or sports event held in the daytime, usually the afternoon, rather than the evening. Example: “They caught the Saturday matinee so they could still go out that evening.”

noun

A performance of a film, play, or sports event held in the daytime, usually the afternoon, rather than the evening.

"They caught the Saturday matinee so they could still go out that evening."

"Tickets for the matinee showing are cheaper than the evening one."

How to use matinee

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA daytime showing of a film or play.

Common pairings

a matinee performance matinee ticket Saturday matinee

Word forms

matineed past tense, matinees plural, matinees singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “matinee” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They caught the Saturday _____ so they could still go out that evening.

Etymology

From French matinée, related to matin, "morning."

Origin: French

Rhymes for matinee

ee see bee wee nee pee fee tee zee gee vee ree

See all rhymes for matinee →

Frequently asked questions

What does “matinee” mean?

The word “matinee” means a performance of a film, play, or sports event held in the daytime, usually the afternoon, rather than the evening. In plain terms, a daytime showing of a film or play.

How do you pronounce “matinee”?

“Matinee” is pronounced MA-tih-nay (/ˈmætɪˌneɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “matinee” in a sentence?

Here is “matinee” used in a sentence: “They caught the Saturday matinee so they could still go out that evening.”

What part of speech is “matinee”?

“Matinee” is a noun.

Where does the word “matinee” come from?

The word “matinee” comes from French. From French matinée, related to matin, "morning.".