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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• seminars
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of seminar

1885–90, < German < Latin sēminārium seminary

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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

AfCRA is not just a response to "Africa's unhappiness with the incumbent players", Hannah Wanjie Ryder, chief executive of consultancy Development Reimagined, told a recent seminar organised by the Chatham House think tank.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

Anyone who came was welcome to receive an amount appropriate to the size of their household, but the adult representative first had to attend a half-hour seminar covering cooking and money-saving tips.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 26, 2026

The 16-person seminar uses Harvard as a case study and requires students to propose a vision for institutional reform for their final project.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Martine Barons, from Stratford-upon-Avon, said she began lifting weights during lockdown after listening to a seminar that said women going through menopause should run less and lift more.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Susan said nothing at that seminar; took no part in the hectic discussion period that followed.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

That soon led to Davis taking a job arranging lectures and seminars and, later, overseeing the organization’s public programming.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

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

This study from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners says that roughly 40% of people who attend seminars actually do let their guard down and buy a product.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 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

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Related Words

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

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