seminar
Americannoun
-
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.
-
the gathering place of such a group.
-
a meeting of such a group.
-
a course or subject of study for advanced graduate students.
-
any meeting for exchanging information and holding discussions.
noun
-
a small group of students meeting regularly under the guidance of a tutor, professor, etc, to exchange information, discuss theories, etc
-
one such meeting or the place in which it is held
-
a higher course for postgraduates
-
any group or meeting for holding discussions or exchanging information
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing seminar
The Vocabulary of College
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
UCPS 6th Grade Roots List #4
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: semi-
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I designed the seminar partly around theater offerings in Los Angeles to connect students to recent developments in the field and to consolidate awareness that something special is happening in the American theater.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 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
This retirement seminar guy did not start his graph in 2016 and show the last decade or so.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 12, 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
She organized an on-site seminar for career counselors at Hampton Institute so that they might better steer their students into job opportunities at Langley.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
