full-fledged
Americanadjective
-
of full rank or standing.
a full-fledged professor.
-
fully developed.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of full-fledged
First recorded in 1880–85
Explanation
Something that's full-fledged is completely developed, or fully qualified. A full-fledged meal, as far as your mom's concerned, might include meat, potatoes, and a vegetable. Things that are whole or complete are full-fledged — a full-fledged case of the flu isn't just a few sniffles and coughs, but requires you to lie in bed with a fever for several days. A full-fledged war involves two countries with a conflict deep enough to inspire violent clashes on both sides. The fledge part of full-fledged comes from the Old English -flycge, "having the feathers" or "fit to fly."
Vocabulary lists containing full-fledged
Where the Red Fern Grows
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Idioms and Expressions, List 4
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Speak
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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.
"He is getting exactly the opposite... Finland today, and soon also Sweden will become a full fledged member of the alliance," Stoltenberg said.
From Reuters • Apr. 4, 2023
But it turns out that Clarence Thomas is not a full fledged libertarian when it comes to free speech.
From Slate • Mar. 8, 2022
“That could lead to a full fledged war in Europe,” Blinken said.
From Washington Post • Mar. 4, 2022
Several months later, she expanded the concept to a full fledged Netflix series of the same name that leans both into camp and into Hilton's overwhelming inability to complete a meal with snags.
From Salon • Oct. 29, 2021
Besides, let me but have him a short time longer and who knows but that a full fledged Confederate may be the result?
From A Daughter of the Union by Madison, Lucy Foster
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
