What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

What is the difference between prodigal and prodigy?

prodigal | prodigy |

As nouns the difference between prodigal and prodigy

is that prodigal is a prodigal person, a spendthrift while prodigy is an extraordinary thing seen as an omen; a portent.

As an adjective prodigal

is wastefully extravagant.

prodigal

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • wastefully extravagant.
  • He found himself guilty of prodigal spending during the holidays.
    He is a prodigal son.
  • (often, followed by of or with) someone yielding profusely, lavish
  • She was a merry person, glad and prodigal of smiles.
    How can he be so prodigal with money on such a tight budget?
  • profuse, lavishly abundant
  • returning after abandoning a person, group, or ideal, especially for selfish reasons; being a prodigal son.
  • * '>citation
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * (a prodigal person) frugal

    Derived terms

    * prodigal son

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A prodigal person, a spendthrift.
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    prodigy

    English

    Noun

    (prodigies)
  • * 1971 , , Religion and the Decline of Magic , Folio Society 2012, p. 87:
  • John Foxe believed that special prodigies had heralded the Reformation.
  • An extraordinary occurrence or creature; an anomaly, especially a monster; a freak.
  • An amazing or marvellous thing; a wonder.
  • A wonderful example of something.
  • An extremely talented person, especially a child.
  • Synonyms

    * (extremely talented person) wunderkind, girl wonder, girl-genius, boy-genius, boy wonder, child prodigy.

    See also

    * precocious * prodigal * child prodigy * prodigy house