What does seminary mean?
A seminary is primarily an institution where students receive advanced training for religious ministry, most commonly in preparation for becoming clergy. The word may also refer more broadly to a specialized school that prepares people for a profession, although this use is less frequent. In older and literary contexts, a seminary can be a place where seeds are sown or plants are raised, preserving the word’s connection with cultivation and growth. Today, the educational sense dominates, and “seminary” often carries an association with theological or denominational training. “Seminar” is related in spelling but differs in meaning: a seminar is a class or meeting organized around discussion of a topic. The term is used in British and American English, with its most characteristic modern reference being a school of theology.
nounAn institution where students are trained for religious ministry or another professional career, especially one training clergy for Christian ministry. In older or literary usage, a seminary is also a place where seeds are sown or plants are raised.
- An institution providing advanced training for religious ministry, especially the training of Christian clergy.
- A school or institution where students are prepared for a particular profession or field.
- In literary or historical usage, a place where seeds are sown or young plants are cultivated.
"She completed her theological studies at a seminary before becoming a parish minister."
"The archdiocese operates a seminary that prepares students for ministry in the Catholic Church."
"The museum's garden included a small seminary where rare plants were raised from seed."
The standard plural is “seminaries.”
"The two seminaries have expanded their programs for lay ministry."
Before it referred to a school for clergy, a seminary was literally a seedbed: both meanings grow from the Latin idea of sowing seed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does seminary come from?
The word comes through Latin from seminarium, a seedbed or place where seed is sown, derived from semen, meaning “seed.” The English word was borrowed in the medieval period first in the sense of a place where seeds were planted. By the later Middle English period, it had developed the sense of a school or college, especially one intended to train clergy. The educational sense reflects the older metaphor of a place where knowledge is planted and cultivated.
Related word forms
How seminary is actually used
In modern English, “seminary” most often denotes a religious training college, especially a Catholic, Episcopal, or other denominational seminary. The sense meaning a seedbed is now literary or archaic. “Seminar,” meaning a discussion-based class or meeting, is a distinct word and should not be confused with “seminary.”
Easily confused with seminary
A seminary is an institution where students are trained, whereas a seminar is a meeting or course in which participants discuss a topic.