prodigy
noun
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."
Examples of prodigy in a Sentence
Melonee Hurt, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Jim Shooter, the comics industry titan who went from teenage writing prodigy to seminal but divisive editor-in-chief for Marvel Comics in the 1980s, has died after a battle with esophageal cancer.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
Hence, the analogy of Robert Redford’s role as Roy Hobbs in 1984’s The Natural comes to mind: a young prodigy is beset by tragedy and emerges as an aged athlete to resurrect their career.
—Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a former F1 prodigy turned NYC cabbie, gambler, and globe-trotting racer-for-hire, who gets a second shot at glory with the Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP).
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prodigy
Cite this Entry
“Prodigy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prodigy. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prodigy
noun
Share