cinematography

noun

: the art or science of photography in a visual medium (as for movies, television, or video games)
black-and-white cinematography
But most of the cinematography is pedestrian. Many scenes are ridiculously overlit—no doubt because Technicolor was still a glorious new gimmick in 1939.Philip Martin
… this film, directed by Cameron Crowe, has better acting, more depth, and also boasts gorgeous cinematography.Nancy Gordon

Examples of cinematography in a Sentence

The film's cinematography is breathtaking. Who did the cinematography for this film?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Great performances and cinematography make this one worth catching. K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 June 2026 The cinematography is handled by Jarin Blaschke, who has shot all of Eggers’ features. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 29 June 2026 The screenplay was written by Ahmed Mourad, with cinematography by Abdel Salam Moussa. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 June 2026 Come for the subtle performances and Agnès Godard’s masterful cinematography; stay for one of the greatest endings in movie history. Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cinematography

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cinematography was in 1896

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Cite this Entry

“Cinematography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinematography. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

cinematography

noun
: the art or science of motion-picture photography
cinematographer
-fər
noun

Medical Definition

cinematography

noun
plural cinematographies
: the art or science of motion-picture photography
X-ray fluoroscopic cinematography

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