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.
But China resumed full-fledged exports within a few years, and prices tanked.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
Cooking a full-fledged meal from scratch seems too laborious.
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026
Yet Harding will, indeed, become a full-fledged one, bringing his own ideas and projects as well as coalescing all the parts into a bigger picture.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
BTIG’s Krinsky wrote that arguably “the biggest question” right now is whether the stock market can advance despite “a full-fledged breakdown from what was once a key industry group.”
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 9, 2026
But when the child opened its throat into a full-fledged wail, Xan woke up with a start.
From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill
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.
