noun
microfilm
Microfilm (noun) means a roll of film containing greatly reduced photographic copies of documents, once widely used for archiving. Example: “The old newspaper archives were stored on microfilm before being digitised.”
noun
1
A roll of film containing greatly reduced photographic copies of documents, once widely used for archiving.
"This detail made it easier, decades later, when I was browsing through reels of microfilms of The New York Times, to establish that morning’s date."
— Hernan Diaz, Trust (2022)
"The old newspaper archives were stored on microfilm before being digitised."
verb
1
To photograph documents onto microfilm for storage.
"The library microfilmed thousands of historic records in the 1960s."
How to use microfilm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned way of storing documents as tiny photographs on a roll of film, largely replaced by digital scanning.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like microfilm.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- microfilms
- Third person singular
- microfilms
- Past tense
- microfilmed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old newspaper archives were stored on _____ before being digitised.
Etymology
A compound of "micro-" (small) and "film," describing the miniature photographic copies used for compact document storage.
Frequently asked questions
What does “microfilm” mean?
The word “microfilm” means a roll of film containing greatly reduced photographic copies of documents, once widely used for archiving. In plain terms, an old-fashioned way of storing documents as tiny photographs on a roll of film, largely replaced by digital scanning.
How do you use “microfilm” in a sentence?
Here is “microfilm” used in a sentence: “The old newspaper archives were stored on microfilm before being digitised.”
What part of speech is “microfilm”?
Depending on how it is used, “microfilm” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “microfilm” have?
“Microfilm” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a roll of film containing greatly reduced photographic copies of documents, once widely used for archiving.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include microfilm:
