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 of prodigy

• miracle
• marvel
• wonder
• phenomenon

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

Beneath the polished surface of Estonia’s elite ice rinks, a Russian hockey prodigy ruled by his violent father and an Estonian figure skater groomed by a manipulative coach fall in love across a national divide. — Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026

He is recognized as the teen prodigy who went missing a decade prior, and his return as an up-and-coming conductor is heralded. — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

At most high schools, people would be breaking their necks in the hallway to get a look at a 17-year-old racing prodigy who’s already been flown out to visit the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull. — Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

The book and series focus on the complicated romance of Canadian hockey prodigy Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russian phenom Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), who are the fierce on-ice rivals and the league’s best players. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026

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