any meeting for an exchange of ideas
"The professor decided to turn the final lecture into a seminar so students could freely debate their research findings."
a course offered for a small group of advanced students
"After finishing my master's degree, I enrolled in a seminar to further specialize in quantum physics alongside only ten other doctoral candidates."
A class held for advanced studies in which students meet regularly to discuss original research, under the guidance of a professor.
"Dr. Evans led our weekly seminar where we presented and critiqued each other's original research on quantum entanglement."
In plain English: A seminar is a class where a small group of people meet to study a specific topic with an expert teacher.
"The professor led a seminar on modern history where students discussed various primary sources."
Usage: A seminar is an intensive course where small groups of students analyze specific topics or present their own research rather than listening to lectures. Use this term instead of "class" when referring to interactive sessions focused on discussion and critical analysis led by experts.
The word seminar comes from the German Seminar, which was borrowed from the Latin sēminārium. This Latin term originally meant "a place for seeds" and is derived from sēmen, meaning seed.