Seminal

Origin

From Latin sēminālis.

Full definition of seminal

Adjective

1. Of or relating to seed or semen.
2. Creative or having the power to originate.
3. Highly influential, especially in some original way, and providing a basis for future development or research.
• HareThe idea of God is, beyond all question or comparison, the one great seminal principle.
4. "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" was a seminal work in the modern philosophy of science.
• 2000, Walter Nicholson, Intermediate microeconomics and its application, For a seminal contribution to the economics of fertility, ....

Synonyms

• (relating to seed) germinal
• (creative) innovative, primary
• (highly influential) innovative, formative

Derived terms

• seminality
• seminally

Noun

1. (obsolete) A seed.
• Sir Thomas Brownethe seminals of spiders and scorpions

Anagrams

• menials