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

• caution
• flash
• marvel
• miracle
• phenomenon
• portent
• sensation
• splendor
• wonder

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

Flair was the dynastic front woman of the company’s women’s division, Rousey was the ferocious prodigy, and Lynch was the unruly wildcard who had to fight her way into merely getting a spot in the match. —Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025

The character Sammie, a young musical prodigy who barely survives a vampire massacre of 1936, is shown as an elderly man. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025

With its lottery pick, the Storm selected 19-year-old French prodigy Dominique Malonga at No. 2. —Roberta F. Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

French prodigy Dominique Malonga is drawing Victor Wembanyama comparisons. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 14 Apr. 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