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

• seminality noun
• seminally adverb
• 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

What were the seminal moments that shaped the adulation afforded to football jerseys today?

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The event will celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Beatles’ seminal “Rubber Soul.”

Read more on Salon

Political scientist Robert Putnam spent decades documenting America’s declining social capital — how people stopped joining clubs, attending church, even bowling in leagues — in his seminal book “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community.”

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Keaton plays that mistress, Mary Wilkie, and her depiction of the witty, wry, journalist with a robust social calendar and strong opinions that she never hesitates to express, is among her most seminal performances.

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“En Messe,” itself, did not serve its purpose to cap a centennial closer to the work of a seminal choreographer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• influential