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.
To hear the islanders tell it, the patriarch, a former Wall Street wunderkind named Jonathan Lehrer, didn’t have the best reputation. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2025 Cameron Crowe’s new memoir The Uncool focuses on his years spent as a wunderkind rock journalist for Rolling Stone and other publications, delving into his time capturing the height of ’70s rock with subjects like David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and Joni Mitchell. Cameron Crowe, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025 The rivalry between the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs captured NBA fans’ attentions in the 2000s with both team led by superstars, one an American phenom who starred in the ACC in college and the other a European wunderkind revolutionizing the game. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025 The 28-year-old wunderkind has already garnered numerous Grammy, Golden Globe, and Academy Award wins, and frequently collaborates with another renowned performer, his sister Billie Eilish. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Wunderkind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wunderkind. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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