film clip: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal/Informal, Technical (media), General
Quick answer
What does “film clip” mean?
A short, discrete segment extracted from a film or video.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A short, discrete segment extracted from a film or video.
A self-contained excerpt from a motion picture, often used for promotional, illustrative, educational, or entertainment purposes; can also refer to stock footage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'film' is the standard term; in American English, 'movie clip' or 'video clip' are more common in casual speech, though 'film clip' remains standard in professional and academic contexts.
Connotations
In the UK, 'film clip' may connote a more artistic or cinematic source. In the US, it can sound slightly formal or technical compared to 'movie clip'.
Frequency
Higher frequency in professional media contexts in both regions. In everyday US English, 'movie/video clip' is more frequent.
Grammar
How to Use “film clip” in a Sentence
[download/share/embed] + a film clip + [from/of] + [film/documentary][film clip] + [shows/depicts/features] + [event/person]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “film clip” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'll film-clip that section for the presentation.
- She spent the afternoon film-clipping archival footage.
American English
- I'll movie-clip that part for the demo.
- He's video-clipping the best scenes.
adverb
British English
- The scene was presented film-clip style.
- It was edited rather film-clip-like.
American English
- The footage was shown movie-clip style.
- It was assembled quite video-clip-like.
adjective
British English
- The film-clip library is extensive.
- We need a film-clip reel.
American English
- The video-clip library is huge.
- We need a movie-clip compilation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in marketing and promotion (e.g., 'We need a 30-second film clip for the ad campaign').
Academic
Used in film studies, media analysis, and history (e.g., 'The lecture analysed a film clip from the 1950s').
Everyday
Used when sharing or discussing content online or on TV (e.g., 'Did you see that funny film clip of the cat?' in UK; 'movie clip' in US).
Technical
Used in video editing, archival, and broadcast (e.g., 'Import the film clip into the editing timeline').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “film clip”
- Using 'film clip' to refer to a music video (which is a 'music video' or 'pop promo'). Confusing it with 'trailer' (which is a preview of a whole film).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A film clip is a short excerpt taken directly from a film, often used to show a specific moment. A trailer is a specially edited promotional video, containing many clips, designed to advertise the entire film.
Typically, no. 'Film clip' implies a source from a cinematic or professionally produced motion picture. For casual video, terms like 'video clip', 'video', or 'clip' are more appropriate.
It's common but slightly informal. Technically, it's 'a video clip on YouTube' unless the content is explicitly an excerpt from a cinematic film. In precise usage, the platform (YouTube) is separate from the content type (film clip).
There's no strict rule, but it is generally a short segment, ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes. It is understood to be a part of a larger work, not the work itself.
A short, discrete segment extracted from a film or video.
Film clip is usually formal/informal, technical (media), general in register.
Film clip: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɪlm ˌklɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɪlm ˌklɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Clip show (a TV episode composed of clips from previous episodes)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: FILM (moving pictures) + CLIP (something cut short) = a short piece cut from a movie.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FILM CLIP is a SAMPLES (as in a sample of food or fabric).
Practice
Quiz
Which term is LEAST likely to be synonymous with 'film clip' in a professional editing context?