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
Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
Creators online quickly began lauding the 5th grader as a genius and a prodigy in short TikTok clips that highlight her natural affinity with music.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
The Tenenbaums were once a family of brilliant prodigies, each destined for greatness: Chas (Ben Stiller) was a financial whiz, Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) a gifted playwright and Richie (Luke Wilson) a tennis champion.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 18, who's replacing Hamilton at Mercedes, has been described as a prodigy.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prodigy
Cite this Entry
“Prodigy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prodigy. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
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prodigy
noun
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