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.
The format treats skin tones differently than digital IMAX, finding more warmth while also playing up the blue-gray pallor that extends the often chilly cinematography. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026 The doc, for which Shirai and Hiroshi Harahandled cinematography, with Frederick Shanahan as editor, mixes intimate vérité with poetic observation to reveal more about a sport that often seems particularly foreign to those outside of Japan. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026 Two-time Oscar winner Roger Deakins and James Ellis Deakins then close the conference with a session on cinematography. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 There is additional cinematography by Roger Chapman, Ronnie McQuillan, and Tom Besley. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 Oct. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cinematography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinematography. Accessed 14 Oct. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on cinematography

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!