seminarian

American

[sem-uh-nair-ee-uhn] / ˌsɛm əˈnɛər i ən /

Also seminarist

noun

a student in a theological seminary.

seminarian British

/ ˌsɛmɪˈnɛərɪən /

noun

a student at a seminary

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of seminarian

First recorded in 1575–85; seminary + -an

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 am an individual with many faults and shortcomings and truly a minor seminarian," he admitted in his first speech in office.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

Talarico-like candidates are busting out across the U.S., if few in his seminarian mold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

As the Union continues to attract loyal fans and reach new heights, so have the blessings bestowed on this historic church where Martin Luther King Jr. attended as a seminarian.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 20, 2023

The first thing any seminarian will learn in a class on biblical interpretation is that all reading is interpretation.

From Salon • Aug. 27, 2023

Tell a seminarian that he has to hurry and all of a sudden he starts to ignore bystanders in obvious distress.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023