Standard Lemma guide

machinima

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • UK: /məˈʃɪnɪmə/
  • CMU ARPABET: M AH0 SH IY1 N IH0 M AH0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The rendering of computer-generated imagery using low-end (real time) 3D engines such as those found in video games, as opposed to the high-end, complex 3D engines used by professionals.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: broadcasting, film, media, television, video-games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The genre of films created by such techniques.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: broadcasting, film, media, television, video-games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Blend of machine + cinema.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 機造影片 /机造影片 (jīzào yǐngpiàn) — rendering of computer-generated imagery
  • Chinese Mandarin: 引擎電影 /引擎电影 (yǐnqíng diànyǐng) — rendering of computer-generated imagery
  • Chinese Mandarin: 機械電影 /机械电影 (jīxiè diànyǐng) — rendering of computer-generated imagery
  • Finnish: machinima — rendering of computer-generated imagery
  • Chinese Mandarin: 機造影片 /机造影片 (jīzào yǐngpiàn) — genre of films
  • Chinese Mandarin: 引擎電影 /引擎电影 (yǐnqíng diànyǐng) — genre of films
  • Chinese Mandarin: 機械電影 /机械电影 (jīxiè diànyǐng) — genre of films
  • Finnish: machinima — genre of films