Academic / B1

SEM-in-ah/ˈsemɪnɑː/

A seminar is a small university class for discussion: attend a seminar; a research seminar; seminar paper. A lecture is a large talk; a tutorial is often even smaller or one-to-one in some UK universities. Workshop is more practical and skills-based. Seminar can also mean a professional training meeting. Do not use seminar for a school lesson with thirty children — that is a class or lesson.

Meaning

A university class in which a small group discusses a subject with a teacher.

Examples

• “Attendance at the Friday seminar is compulsory for first-year students.”
• “Read the article before the seminar or you will not follow the debate.”
• “The department runs a weekly seminar for PhD students.”

Good to know

attend a seminar; seminar paper. Large talk: lecture. Very small / personal: tutorial. Practical skills: workshop. Not a school lesson.

Near in meaning

tutorial

Topics

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