prodigy
C1Formal, literary, journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A person, especially a young one, endowed with exceptional qualities or abilities; a marvel.
An extraordinary or marvelous thing; an amazing event or action; something that causes wonder or astonishment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to a person with exceptional talent, often from a very young age. Can also describe an extraordinary event or outcome, though this is less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Slight preference for 'child prodigy' in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly positive, implying awe and rarity. Can carry a slight sense of burden or pressure when applied to a person.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both; more common in profiles of talented individuals, arts, and sports reporting.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] a prodigy[be] hailed as a prodigy[emerge/develop] as a prodigy[be] considered a prodigyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Mozart in the making (similar concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically for a company with meteoric success: 'The startup was a prodigy of the tech boom.'
Academic
Used in psychology, education, and talent development literature to discuss exceptional early ability.
Everyday
Most commonly heard in 'child prodigy' to describe a remarkably talented young person.
Technical
Not typically a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Mozart was a child prodigy who played music beautifully.
- The young chess prodigy defeated several adult champions in the tournament.
- Critics hailed the novel as a prodigy of modern literature, astonishing in its depth for a first-time author.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PRODIGY as PRO-DIG-Y: a professional-level talent that makes you go 'Wow!' (dig it?) from a young (Y) age.
Conceptual Metaphor
TALENT IS A RARE NATURAL RESOURCE / A PERSON IS A MARVEL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'prodigal' (блудный). The Russian 'вундеркинд' (wunderkind) is a direct synonym for 'child prodigy'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a direct synonym for 'expert' (an expert is not necessarily young or naturally gifted).
- Confusing spelling with 'prodigal'.
- Using it to describe ordinary talent.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely to be described as a prodigy?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Most commonly, yes (as in 'child prodigy'). It can describe an adult's exceptional work, but this is rarer and more literary.
A prodigy specifically demonstrates exceptional ability at a very young age. A 'genius' has exceptional intellectual or creative power, which may manifest at any age.
Yes, but this is an older, more literary use meaning 'a marvel' or 'a wonderful thing', e.g., 'The engine was a prodigy of engineering.'
Overwhelmingly yes, but it can imply immense pressure or a life path that is unusual and challenging.
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