seminal

[sem-uh-nl]

adjective

1. pertaining to, containing, or consisting of semen.

2. Botany.,  of or relating to seed.

3. having possibilities of future development.

4. highly original and influencing the development of future events.

   a seminal artist; seminal ideas.

   Synonyms: innovative, formative, primary, germinal

seminal

/ ˈsɛmɪnəl /

adjective

1. potentially capable of development

2. highly original, influential, and important

3. rudimentary or unformed

4. of or relating to semen

   seminal fluid

5. biology of or relating to seed

Other Word Forms

• seminally adverb
• seminality noun
• interseminal adjective
• preseminal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of seminal¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin sēminālis, equivalent to sēmin- (stem of sēmen ) seed, semen + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of seminal¹

C14: from Late Latin sēminālis belonging to seed, from Latin sēmen seed

Example Sentences

“They are both seminal works from a key period in the artist’s life,” Jane said.

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That was at a seminal time for us actors from Chicago.

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Praising the filmmaker, DiCaprio called him "a visionary and seminal director".

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That was seen as a seminal event in post war economic history which severely undermined the economic credibility of the Callaghan government.

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Back on our Zoom call, I ask Mosley whether he was thinking of Raymond Chandler’s seminal 1944 essay “The Simple Art of Murder” and the oft-quoted line “Down these mean streets…” when writing that passage.

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Related Words

• influential