Genius vs. Prodigy — What's the Difference?

Someone with exceptional talent or capacity in a particular area.

A wonder or extraordinary occurrence.

A strong natural ability or inclination.

An astonishing or marvelous example.

A guiding spirit or influence.

A young person with exceptional abilities or talents.

Exceptional insight or ability to solve complex problems.

Someone who achieves something significant at a young age.

An innate intellectual or creative power.

A person with exceptional talents or powers

A genius is a person who displays exceptional intellectual ability, creative productivity, universality in genres, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of new discoveries or advances in a domain of knowledge. Geniuses may be polymaths who excel across many diverse subjects or may show high achievements in only a single kind of activity.There is no scientifically precise definition of a genius.

An act or event so extraordinary or rare as to inspire wonder

Extraordinary intellectual and creative power

(Archaic) A portentous sign or event; an omen.

A person of extraordinary intellect and talent.

An extraordinary thing seen as an omen; a portent.

A person who has an exceptionally high intelligence quotient, typically above 140.

An extraordinary occurrence or creature; an anomaly, especially a monster; a freak.

A strong natural talent, aptitude, or inclination

An amazing or marvellous thing; a wonder.

One who has such a talent or inclination

A wonderful example of something.

The prevailing spirit or distinctive character, as of a place, a person, or an era

An extremely talented person, especially a child.

Pl. ge·ni·i (jēnē-ī′) Roman Mythology A tutelary deity or guardian spirit of a person or place.

Something extraordinary, or out of the usual course of nature, from which omens are drawn; a portent; as, eclipses and meteors were anciently deemed prodigies.

Someone possessing extraordinary intelligence or skill; especially somebody who has demonstrated this by a creative or original work in science, music, art etc.

Anything so extraordinary as to excite wonder or astonishment; a marvel; as, a prodigy of learning.

Extraordinary mental capacity.

A production out of ordinary course of nature; an abnormal development; a monster.

Inspiration, a mental leap, an extraordinary creative process.

An unusually gifted or intelligent (young) person; someone whose talents excite wonder and admiration;

The tutelary deity or spirit of a place or person.

A sign of something about to happen;

(informal) Ingenious, brilliant, very clever, or original.

An impressive or wonderful example of a particular quality;

A good or evil spirit, or demon, supposed by the ancients to preside over a man's destiny in life; a tutelary deity; a supernatural being; a spirit, good or bad. Cf. Jinnee.

An omen or sign.

The peculiar structure of mind with which each individual is endowed by nature; that disposition or aptitude of mind which is peculiar to each man, and which qualifies him for certain kinds of action or special success in any pursuit; special taste, inclination, or disposition; as, a genius for history, for poetry, or painting.

Peculiar character; animating spirit, as of a nation, a religion, a language.

Distinguished mental superiority; uncommon intellectual power; especially, superior power of invention or origination of any kind, or of forming new combinations; as, a man of genius.

A man endowed with uncommon vigor of mind; a man of superior intellectual faculties and creativity; as, Shakespeare was a rare genius.

Someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality;

Unusual mental ability

Someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

Exceptional creative ability

A natural talent;

Genius recognition is often lifelong, while prodigy recognition can be temporary, often linked to youth.

Typically, the term prodigy is reserved for the young, emphasizing precociousness.

No, genius can be found in various domains, including arts, sports, and more.

No, while many are recognized, others might go unnoticed or not receive widespread attention.

Prodigy is a young person with extraordinary talents for their age.

Not necessarily. While some geniuses might have been prodigies, many develop or are recognized for their exceptional abilities later in life.

While genius often suggests an innate ability, it can also be developed over time.

Yes, some prodigies might not sustain or further develop their talents into adulthood.

Yes, someone can be recognized as a prodigy in youth and continue to showcase genius-level abilities into adulthood.

Genius refers to exceptional intellectual or creative power.

In casual speech, "genius" can be used to compliment someone's smart idea or solution, even if it's not truly of "genius" caliber.

No, prodigies can excel in various fields, including music, sports, arts, and more.

While related, they have distinct meanings and should be used in their respective contexts.

There's no strict age limit, but the term is usually applied to talented children or teenagers.

While some aspects of genius might be innate, with the right environment and dedication, talents can certainly be cultivated.