# CGI

/ˌsiˌɡiˈaɪ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cgi
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. digital special effects

noun · CEFR B2

Stands for Computer-Generated Imagery. These are the digital pictures and special effects you see in movies and games.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Computer-Generated Imagery. It refers to the use of computer graphics to create or enhance visual content in media, particularly in cinema and television.

- The movie was full of amazing CGI that made the dragons look real.
- While the script was somewhat lacking, the high-budget CGI used to render the alien landscapes was visually stunning.

### 2. to add digital effects

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to use a computer to create or change the way something looks in a film.

For teachers: to apply computer-generated imagery to a scene or character during post-production.

- They decided to CGI the background instead of filming on location.
- The studio spent months trying to CGI the lead actor's face onto a stunt double for the high-speed chase sequence.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

### 3. web server technology

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Stands for Common Gateway Interface. It is a technical way for a web server to talk to other programs.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Common Gateway Interface. A standard protocol for external gateway programs to interface with information servers, such as HTTP servers.

- The old website used a CGI script to process the contact form.
- Modern web development has largely moved away from basic CGI in favor of more efficient application server frameworks.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly technical and specific to legacy web infrastructure; most learners will only encounter the 'imagery' sense.

## Examples

- The dragon in the movie is CGI.
- The film uses CGI to show the city as it looked fifty years ago.
- Modern blockbusters rely heavily on CGI to create fantastical worlds that would be prohibitively expensive to build with physical sets.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.