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

• miracle
• marvel
• wonder
• phenomenon

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

Just this year, the 16-year-old Danish racing prodigy made her debut in the F1 Academy, the all-female, single-seat championship circuit founded by former driver Susie Wolff to tackle the gender gap in motorsports. —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

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