seminar

American  

[sem-uh-nahr] / ˈsɛm əˌnɑr /

noun

• seminars
  plural

1. a small group of students, as in a university, engaged in advanced study and original research under a member of the faculty and meeting regularly to exchange information and hold discussions.

2. the gathering place of such a group.

3. a meeting of such a group.

4. a course or subject of study for advanced graduate students.

5. any meeting for exchanging information and holding discussions.

---

seminar British  

/ ˈsɛmɪˌnɑː /

noun

1. a small group of students meeting regularly under the guidance of a tutor, professor, etc, to exchange information, discuss theories, etc

2. one such meeting or the place in which it is held

3. a higher course for postgraduates

4. any group or meeting for holding discussions or exchanging information

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• seminars
  plural

Etymology

Origin of seminar

1885–90, < German < Latin sēminārium seminary

Explanation

A seminar means a class or meeting, but it carries with it extra weight. An educational seminar indicates a small, advanced study, while a meeting labeled as such means an intense exchange of ideas. The Latin seminarium originally referred to a plant nursery, a place of great growth. From this came the German seminar, referring to a formal educational group led by a professor. While university seminars are most frequently small-group studies of a particular issue, the word is also applied to large lectures and commercial pitches. Like the seminar you attended on how to get rich by selling carrot peelers to your neighbors.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

seminar seminars

A senior judge of China’s Supreme People’s Court participated in an March 2023 online seminar sponsored by a U.S. environmental-law group and used the platform to talk up Xi Jinping’s climate-change policies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

He was surprised, he said, to find himself sharing his story, opening up for the first time at a “Life Success” seminar in Cincinnati, Ali’s hometown.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

Don’t miss: ‘It seems too good to be true’: At a steak-dinner retirement seminar, the guy said annuities can outperform the market.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026

During another seminar, an attendee asks what the presenter looks for when hiring out of college.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

At the age of twenty, Susan Calvin had been part of the particular Psycho-Math seminar at which Dr. Alfred Lanning of U.S.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

When there was an issue, I scheduled seminars, makeup sessions and phone office hours at different times to supplement the meetings and assignments.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

The idea of meeting lots of new people for the first time since starting secondary school was nerve-racking he says, but Isaak made friends by talking to people he met at lectures and seminars.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

They’re more likely to come from officers who’ve been seasoned on the battlefield and in academic seminars.

From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2026

But he says they have upped the ante, and have started booking these seminars at steakhouses.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 12, 2026

Along with all this, I suppose I’m trying to say that I know how bitterly you resent the years when S. and I were regularly conducting home seminars, and the metaphysical sittings in particular.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• convention
• discussion
• forum
• group discussion
• meeting
• round table
• symposium
• workshop