cinephile: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

A 'cinephile' often implies a more intellectual, scholarly, or artistic appreciation of film as a medium. A 'film buff' is a more informal term for someone with extensive knowledge and enthusiasm about movies, which can include popular cinema. The terms overlap significantly, but 'cinephile' carries a more formal, highbrow connotation.

No, it is not common in everyday conversation. It is more frequently found in writing about film (reviews, criticism, journalism) or in discussions among people with a serious interest in cinema. In casual talk, 'movie lover' or 'film buff' is more likely.

While its primary part of speech is a noun, it is sometimes used attributively (like a noun acting as an adjective) in phrases like 'cinephile culture' or 'a cinephile's dream'. It is not commonly used predicatively (e.g., 'He is very cinephile').

There is no direct, common opposite. One could say someone is 'indifferent to film' or a 'casual viewer'. The rare, constructed term 'cinephobe' (a person who fears or dislikes cinema) exists but is almost never used in practice.

A person who loves, studies, and is very enthusiastic about films and cinema.

Cinephile is usually formal, educated, specialized in register.

Cinephile: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪn.ɪ.faɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪn.ə.faɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.