seminal
6 synonyms for seminal, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Highly influential and providing the basis for later work or ideas.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
originative
germinal
How to use seminal
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
seminal work
seminal paper
seminal album
Etymology
From Latin sēminālis, "of seed," from sēmen, "seed" — the same root behind "seminar" and "disseminate."
Full origin of seminal →Frequently asked questions
What does “seminal” mean?
The word “seminal” means highly influential and providing the basis for later work or ideas. In plain terms, describes something so original and influential that later work grows out of it, like a seed.
How do you pronounce “seminal”?
“Seminal” is pronounced SEH-mih-nuhl (/ˈsɛmɪnəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “seminal” in a sentence?
Here is “seminal” used in a sentence: “The paper is now considered a seminal work in the field.”
What part of speech is “seminal”?
“Seminal” is an adjective.
Where does the word “seminal” come from?
The word “seminal” comes from Latin. From Latin sēminālis, "of seed," from sēmen, "seed" — the same root behind "seminar" and "disseminate.".
Is “seminal” a common word?
“Seminal” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “seminal” have?
“Seminal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: highly influential and providing the basis for later work or ideas.
