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
Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
After a 15-year battle against world champion Garry Kasparov, Judit Polgár revolutionizes the sport’s patriarchal culture to become one of the greatest chess prodigies in history and the greatest woman chess player of all time.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
For three months and 32 shows, the then-13-year-old prodigy danced alongside her mom throughout the three-hour concert.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Liu, no longer a young prodigy taking orders from the adults around her, is making this comeback on her own terms.
—Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 5 Jan. 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 15 Jan. 2026.
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prodigy
noun
