A prodigy is a young person with extraordinary talent or ability that far exceeds what's typical for their age. When a six-year-old composes complex symphonies or a ten-year-old solves university-level math problems, that's a prodigy.

The word specifically refers to children and teenagers who demonstrate remarkable gifts early in life. Mozart was a musical prodigy, performing for royalty at age six and composing his first symphony at eight. Chess prodigies might defeat adult grandmasters before they're teenagers. Mathematical prodigies solve problems that stump most adults.

Not every talented kid is a prodigy. The word suggests something genuinely exceptional: abilities that make adults stop and wonder how someone so young could possibly do what they're doing. A student who's simply good at piano or strong in math wouldn't be called a prodigy, but someone whose abilities seem to defy the normal pace of learning might be.

Being a prodigy brings both opportunities and challenges. While their talents open doors, prodigies may struggle to fit in with other kids their age or feel pressure to constantly perform at extraordinary levels. Many prodigies grow into successful adults in their fields, though some find the early attention difficult to handle as they mature.