prodigy

noun

prod·​i·​gy ˈprä-də-jē 

plural prodigies

1

a

: a highly talented child or youth

b

: an extraordinary, marvelous, or unusual accomplishment, deed, or event

2

a

: something extraordinary or inexplicable

b

: a portentous event : omen

Did you know?

Is a prodigy a genius or a monster - or both? Nowadays, it's the talent that shines through, but back in the 15th century the word's meaning was more strongly influenced by that of its Latin ancestor, prodigium, meaning "omen" or "monster." Back then, a prodigy could be any strange or weird thing that might be an omen of things to come. Even in modern English, the word sometimes refers to an extraordinary deed or accomplishment. P.G. Wodehouse used that sense when he described how a character named Pongo Twistleton was "performing prodigies with the [billiard] cue."

Synonyms of prodigy

• miracle
• marvel
• wonder
• phenomenon

Examples of prodigy in a Sentence

a new drug that is being hailed as the latest prodigy of the medical world

Recent Examples on the Web

Social media reactions were all raves for Chalamet’s performance as a prodigy ping-pong player who, in the 1950s, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness — wrecking lives, and cars, and apartments along the way. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Nov. 2025

Gillespie will play the prodigy’s loyal friend whose faith and friendship are tested as the high-stakes chess match spirals out of control. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025

The comedian called Escobedo a child prodigy, praising him for his saxophone-playing skills. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025

Flagg’s numbers might not look pretty, but the Mavericks believe this will only benefit their basketball prodigy from Maine over the long haul. —Christian Clark, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin prodigium omen, monster, from pro-, prod- + -igium (akin to aio I say) — more at adage

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

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Kids Definition

prodigy

noun

prod·​i·​gy ˈpräd-ə-jē 

plural prodigies

1

: an amazing event or action : wonder

2

: an unusually talented child