adj

seminal

SEH-mih-nuhl

adj

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."

Relating to semen or biological seed.

"The textbook describes the seminal vesicles in detail."

How to Use Seminal

Learner’s notes

In 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

more seminal comparative, seminals plural, most seminal superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The paper is now considered a _____ work in the field.

From Latin sēminālis, "of seed," from sēmen, "seed" — the same root behind "seminar" and "disseminate."

final urinal spinal nominal vaginal retinal criminal cardinal original terminal marginal virginal