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

Derived Forms

• ˈseminally, adverb
• ˌsemiˈnality, noun

Other Words From

• semi·nali·ty noun
• semi·nal·ly adverb
• inter·semi·nal adjective
• pre·semi·nal 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

More than a half-century ago, Noam Chomsky’s seminal essay, "The Responsibility of Intellectuals," appeared in a Feb. 23, 1967, special issue of The New York Review of Books.

From Salon

The release of the Band Aid single, and the Live Aid concert that followed eight months later, became seminal moments in celebrity fundraising and set a template that many others followed.

From BBC

My Chemical Romance will perform its seminal 2006 album ‘The Black Parade’ in its entirety on a 10-stop stadium tour next summer.

From Los Angeles Times

Calling all Angel-emos: My Chemical Romance is celebrating its seminal album “The Black Parade” with a stadium tour slated for next summer.

From Los Angeles Times

English Football League chairman Rick Parry says he hopes a "seminal" review of the game by a new independent regulator could help overcome years of deadlock with the Premier League over a "fundamental financial reset".

From BBC

Related Words

• influential