prodigy

noun

prod·​i·​gy ˈprä-də-jē How to pronounce prodigy (audio)
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."

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Estevao is living up to his billing as the Premier League’s new prodigy. Cerys Jones, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2025 Its characters were prodigies who had private tutors and went to training camps for programming competitions, though their striving did not add up to a happy life. Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025 Josh Safdie takes us on a chaotic, sprawling globetrot to break down the swaggering hubris of a ping-pong prodigy who can’t being insufferable. 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 See All Example Sentences for prodigy

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of prodigy was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Prodigy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prodigy. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

prodigy

noun
prod·​i·​gy ˈpräd-ə-jē How to pronounce prodigy (audio)
plural prodigies
1
: an amazing event or action : wonder
2
: an unusually talented child

More from Merriam-Webster on prodigy

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