phenom

English

Etymology

Clipping of phenomenon (“remarkable occurrence”). American English, c. 1890s.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɛ.nəm/, /ˈfiː.nɒm/
• Rhymes: -ɛnəm

Noun

phenom (plural phenoms)

1. Someone or something that is phenomenal, especially a promising young player in sports like baseball, American football, basketball, tennis, and golf.
   • 2017, Brandon Isleib, Playing for a Winner, page 77:

     Managed and shortstopped by George Wright and full of league stalwarts—Joe Start, Paul Hines, and Jim O'rourke—they also had 1-year-old phenom Monte Ward as primary moundsman (teams now generally used multiple pitchers).

   • 2021 September 11, Tim Lewis, “Focused, fearless, unflappable – the teenage stars taking sport by storm”, in The Observer‎^[1], →ISSN:

     It is the first all-teen final since 1999 – when neither was born – which saw Serena Williams, 17, beat an 18-year-old Martina Hingis. Teen phenoms were relatively commonplace back then, especially on the women’s side, occasionally on the men’s.

2. One who is hip and fashionable.
   • 2013, Ytasha L. Womack, Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture, →ISBN, page 105:

     Jones is a pop-culture phenom whose bold antics, outlandish personality, and dazzling looks defied all norms.

Usage notes

• Often used sarcastically or in jest.

See also

• Thesaurus:child prodigy