cinephile

noun

cine·​phile ˈsi-nə-ˌfī(-ə)l How to pronounce cinephile (audio)
: a lover of films : a cinema enthusiast

Examples of cinephile in a Sentence

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.
Just before the pandemic, Manhattan’s MCC Theater staged a show called All the Natalie Portmans, about a gay Black teenage cinephile who envisions the actor as a kind of manic pixie imaginary friend. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026 Deramas also justifies all the cinematic allusions on the story level, establishing the characters as devoted cinephiles who are particularly acquainted with Philippine cinema. — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026 Some film critics and cinephiles have blanched at the fact that 25 minutes of running time and some musical numbers were cut for the Las Vegas booking. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 July 2026 Once known mostly to Toronto cinephiles, he now routinely gets recognized on the street. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cinephile

Word History

Etymology

French cinéphile, from ciné + -phile

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cinephile was in 1929

Browse Nearby Words

cineole
cinephile
cineplastic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cinephile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinephile. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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