protégé

noun

pro·​té·​gé ˈprō-tə-ˌzhā How to pronounce protégé (audio)
ˌprō-tə-ˈzhā
Synonyms of protégénext
: one who is protected or trained or whose career is furthered by a person of experience, prominence, or influence

Examples of protégé in a Sentence

He was a protégé of the great composer.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Two of his most notable proteges are Natalie Golda and Chelsea Gonzales. Dan Albano, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026 Conductor Teddy Abrams, a protege of San Francisco Symphony Music Director Laureate Michael Tilson-Thomas, is set to take over as artistic and executive director later this year. Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026 The show follows Deborah’s complicated relationship with her protege Ava (Hannah Einbender), a millennial comedy writer who initially teams up with Deborah to freshen up her Las Vegas act before eventually becoming a close friend and collaborator. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026 When Sun died in 1925, his protege, Chiang, took the reins of the Nationalist movement. Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026 Several of their proteges, or past teammates, are now in position to join them in the NFL — in part from the wisdom, or encouragement, passed down along the way. Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 28 Feb. 2026 Yet the looming threat of a victory of Marine Le Pen or her protege, Jordan Bardella, in ballots starting in April 2027 in France could push European leaders to adjust their timetable. Jana Randow, Bloomberg, 16 Feb. 2026 Okuwa is a protege of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and served as the head sushi chef at Morimoto's flagship restaurants in Philadelphia and New York. Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Feb. 2026 The plot follows a visionary billionaire (Kapoor) who grooms a rising tycoon (Vijay Varma) to take over the reins of India’s largest conglomerate as his successor, only to unceremoniously fire his protege a few months into the job. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from past participle of protéger to protect, from Middle French, from Latin protegere

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of protégé was in 1786

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Protégé.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prot%C3%A9g%C3%A9. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

protégé

noun
pro·​té·​gé ˈprōt-ə-ˌzhā How to pronounce protégé (audio)
: a person under the care or training of someone influential especially for the furthering of his or her career
Etymology

French, from protéger "to protect"

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