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

• caution
• flash
• marvel
• miracle
• phenomenon
• portent
• sensation
• splendor
• wonder

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

In the sports drama, Zendaya plays Tashi Duncan, a teenaged tennis prodigy who becomes enmeshed in a complicated romantic three-way triangle that lasts years. —Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 26 Apr. 2024

Zendaya stars in the film as a former tennis prodigy who retires after an injury and later marries a tennis champion on a losing streak. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024

Thirteen years ago, in happier times, Art and Patrick were best friends and doubles partners; then along came Tashi, a tennis prodigy with her own dreams of stardom. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2024

But the Netflix series has turned many of the trilogy’s various protagonists into a collection of friends, all scientific prodigies in their 30s who studied under the same mentor at Oxford University. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2024

The show stars Iain Armitage as the adolescent version of Parsons' Big Bang Theory protagonist, following his adventures as a child prodigy in '80s and '90s East Texas. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024

This is Tashi Duncan, a teenage tennis prodigy turned professional coach. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024

One bright spot for the piano prodigy was cartoons, which often used classical music in their scores. —Beth Wood, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024

When Beane turned him down, all Henry did was hire the data-crunching prodigy Theo Epstein, who went on to lead both the Red Sox and Cubs to historic championships. —Paolo Confino, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024

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