fulfillment

American

[fool-fil-muhnt] / fʊlˈfɪl mənt /

especially British, fulfilment

noun

the act or state of fulfilling: to achieve fulfillment of one's hopes.

to witness the fulfillment of a dream;
to achieve fulfillment of one's hopes.
the state or quality of being fulfilled; completion; realization.

a vague plan that had no hope of fulfillment.
the process or business of handling and executing customer orders, as packing, shipping, or processing checks.

Other Word Forms

prefulfillment noun
superfulfillment noun

Etymology

Origin of fulfillment

First recorded in 1765–75; fulfill + -ment

Explanation

Fulfillment is a feeling of happiness and satisfaction. It's also the completion of something, like the fulfillment of a promise. This word has two related meanings. In terms of emotions, fulfillment is a happy, contented feeling. Many people feel fulfillment from being a parent, having a great job, or graduating from school. People often feel fulfillment when something is completed, whether it's a goal or a dream or repair work that you've been waiting on. Which leads to the other meaning of fulfillment — the act of finishing or doing something that was promised.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing fulfillment

Mahatma Gandhi's "Quit India" Speech

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Bless Me, Ultima

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"Democracy in America, Vol. 1" by Alexis de Tocqueville, Introduction–Chapter 5

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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.

Bonfig — Best Buy’s current chief customer, product and fulfillment officer who, like Barry, joined the company in 1999 — will take Barry’s place as CEO and as a board member starting Nov. 1.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

But doing so can actually bring about greater fulfillment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Jassy highlighted robotics as a key driver of efficiency and innovation within Amazon’s operations, particularly its fulfillment network.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Amazon said it would apply a 3.5% charge to merchants for its fulfillment service.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

As soon as I allowed myself to feel anything for Barack, the feelings came rushing—a toppling blast of lust, gratitude, fulfillment, wonder.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023