phenom

noun

phe·​nom ˈfē-ˌnäm How to pronounce phenom (audio) fi-ˈnäm How to pronounce phenom (audio)
: phenomenon
especially : a person of phenomenal ability or promise

Examples of phenom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
He's been everything he was supposed to be as a high school phenom out of Las Vegas. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026 Afro-house phenom AMÉMÉ then took to the decks delivering his signature native sound. — Danny Klein, SPIN, 26 June 2026 Two years ago, the Man City phenom appeared in a 90-second spot for the game that saw him get recruited to storm a castle teeming with goblins, dragons and impish skeletons. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026 Soccer phenom Lionel Messi is married to his childhood friend and longtime partner, Antonela Roccuzzo. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for phenom

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phenom was in 1881

Rhymes for phenom

See All Rhymes for phenom

Browse Nearby Words

phenolsulfonephthalein
phenom
phenomena
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Phenom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phenom. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All