Seminal/ˈsemɪnl/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Academic Impact Describes work that changes a field of study in a big way. Darwin's On the Origin of Species is a seminal work in biology. Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Popular Seminal works aren't guaranteed to be widely known or bestsellers. The seminal theory was initially ignored, but later gained recognition. Pro Tip 3/3Historical Usage Often sees use when discussing history or progress over time. Her ideas became the seminal foundation for modern architecture.