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

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

“A lot of that seminal, really important American activism initiated out of Berkeley and San Francisco,” Peskin said.

From Los Angeles Times

He included the stat in the seminal Runs Created formula he devised in the 1970s, which simply counts times on base, multiplied by bases advanced, divided by opportunities.

From Los Angeles Times

Tito Jackson, one of the original members of the seminal Motown group the Jackson 5, has died.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• influential