wunderkind

noun

wun·​der·​kind ˈvu̇n-dər-ˌkint How to pronounce wunderkind (audio)
plural wunderkinder ˈvu̇n-dər-ˌkin-dər How to pronounce wunderkind (audio)
: a child prodigy
also : one who succeeds in a competitive or highly difficult field or profession at an early age

Examples of wunderkind in a Sentence

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.
The lobby-level draw is the brasserie, The Merchant Room, from Minneapolis wunderkind Gavin Kaysen. Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026 In a small act of unselfishness, Celebrini then passed the puck to Collin Graf, only to have the Sharks winger send it right back to the still-teenaged wunderkind, who quickly fired the puck into the open net with a defender bearing down on him for his second goal of the game. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026 On that night 15 months ago, the French wunderkind accomplished a feat none of the others could, forcing Jokic to give up on the Sombor mid-shuffle with a close-out that practically reached into the upper deck. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026 Having come within an overtime goal of the summit three years ago, the Gophers’ fan base is starving for the first new NCAA title banner to hang inside 3M Arena at Mariucci since a wunderkind named Thomas Vanek willed Minnesota to a title in 2003. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wunderkind

Word History

Etymology

German, from Wunder wonder + Kind child

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wunderkind was in 1873

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wunderkind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wunderkind. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster