phenom
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does phenom mean? A phenom is a person with an extraordinary talent or ability. The word is especially used to refer to a relatively young person who is considered a prodigy. Phenom is a shortened version of the word phenomenon, which can be used to mean the same thing. The word phenom is often preceded by the particular field that the phenom excels in or the skill that they have, as in chess phenom or basketball phenom. Example: All eyes are on the gymnastics phenom as she makes her first international appearance.
Etymology
Origin of phenom
By shortening
Explanation
An incredibly talented person can be called a phenom. You may dream of being recognized as a musical phenom during your ukulele performance at the school talent show. Young athletes with extraordinary skills are commonly described as phenoms, and it's no surprise that the term originated in baseball slang. It's a shortened form of phenomenon, "extraordinary occurrence," coined in the 1890s. A rookie pitcher who throws a no-hitter is a phenom, and so is someone like Greta Thunberg, who became a famous climate activist as a teenager. Use this word for people you find to be phenomenally inspiring!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pella has been instrumental in the success of Owen, a young literary phenom from the first book who, in a meta-fictional twist, has written a smash-hit debut novel called “The Art of Fielding.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
No longer an unknown, the treadmill phenom is eyeing a bigger prize when he laces up for the Chicago Marathon on Sunday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
A prideful third-round exit to phenom Joao Fonseca in Paris.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Instead, the brash phenom who once compared himself to Mike Trout spent half a decade toiling in the minors, a difficult stretch filled with disappointment, frustration and a boatload of strikeouts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
In vetting him for the job, his trainer neglected to look at his sister, a local basketball phenom.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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