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
Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Not all players are prodigies, and not all coaches Yoda-like figures overflowing with zen wisdom.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Arch has gained notoriety as a football prodigy.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
The iconic skateboarder broke out as a teenage prodigy on the pro circuit with the Bones Brigade, the legendary Powell Peralta team in the early 1980s.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 3 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 16 Sep. 2025.
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prodigy
noun
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