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
Zack Sharf, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025
Rensch romanticized the idea of a child prodigy finding himself inside the game, and with his life circumstances, the board could serve as a tool for his survival.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
The talent of Yamal and these other prodigies is not in question, and neither is their attitude.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Just swap Matt Damon’s math wunderkind for a Chinese arthouse prodigy.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 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 10 Oct. 2025.
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prodigy
noun
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