adj
Uncommon
seminal
SEH-mih-nuhl
Seminal (adj) means Highly influential and providing the basis for later work or ideas. Example: “The paper is now considered a seminal work in the field.”
adj
1
Highly influential and providing the basis for later work or ideas.
"The paper is now considered a seminal work in the field."
"Her seminal research changed how scientists thought about memory."
2
Relating to semen or biological seed.
"The textbook describes the seminal vesicles in detail."
How to use seminal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something so original and influential that later work grows out of it, like a seed.
Common mistake
In modern writing this almost always means "groundbreaking," not the older biological sense — context makes the meaning obvious.
Common pairings
seminal work
seminal paper
seminal album
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Word forms
- Plural
- seminals
- Comparative
- more seminal
- Superlative
- most seminal
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The paper is now considered a _____ work in the field.
Etymology
From Latin sēminālis, "of seed," from sēmen, "seed" — the same root behind "seminar" and "disseminate."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for seminal
See all rhymes for 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.
