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
Irene Kim, Vogue, 30 May 2026
Originally written by Tim Rice, the musical centers on two chess grandmasters, American prodigy Freddie Trumper (Tveit) and Russian grandmaster Anatoly Sergievsky (Christopher), who face off in tournaments amid Cold War tensions.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
Many initially dismissed the claim as premature hype surrounding a teenage prodigy.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
The 11-year-old STEM prodigy, whose real name is Sean Atitsogbe, recently met the 70-year-old scientist, whose show Bill Nye the Science Guy inspired generations of scientists and science enthusiasts.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prodigy
Cite this Entry
“Prodigy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prodigy. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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prodigy
noun
