Word
seminal
Phoneticssem·i·nal
US/ˈsɛmənəɫ/
UK/sˈɛmɪnəl/
Definitions
01highly influential
adj. describing a book, study, or idea that is very important and influences many later works.
adj. highly influential in an original way, providing a foundational basis for future development or research within a field.
“His seminal book on economics changed how governments think about taxes.”
“The researcher's seminal paper on genetic sequencing laid the groundwork for decades of subsequent breakthroughs in personalized medicine.”
Academic
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it modifies.
Teaching tip
Learners should use this to describe works that started a new way of thinking, not just any 'good' or 'popular' book.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02relating to semen
adj. relating to the fluid that carries sperm.
adj. pertaining to, containing, or consisting of seed or semen.
“The doctor explained the results of the seminal fluid analysis.”
“The laboratory conducted a detailed examination of the seminal vesicles to determine the cause of the patient's infertility.”
Technical
Usage
Almost exclusively used in medical or biological contexts.
03creative or originating
adj. having the power to create or start new ideas.
adj. containing the seeds of later development; creative or having the power to originate.
“The artist's seminal years in Paris defined his later style.”
“The philosopher spent his seminal years developing the core principles that would eventually form his theory of ethics.”
Literary
Teaching tip
This sense is less common than the 'influential' sense and often overlaps with the idea of a formative period.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“What better time to revisit some of our favorite scenes from this seminal sci-fi action blockbuster?” “It’s a decade since the Los Angeles musician released the seminal album Blonde.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *seh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *séh₁mn̥ Proto-Italic *sēmən Latin sēmen Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin sēminālis Old French seminalbor. Middle English seminal English seminal From Middle English seminal, semynal, from Old French seminal, seminale, from Latin sēminālis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/seminal