Definition

Adjective 1. (Of a bird) Having developed the feathers necessary for flight. This describes a young bird that has grown its full set of flight feathers and is typically ready to leave the nest. 2. (Of an arrow) Equipped with feathers or vanes at the rear end. This describes the fletching on an arrow, which stabilizes its flight.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Bird):
  • The fledged robin hopped along the branch, preparing for its first flight.
  • Once the eaglets are fledged, they will leave the nest permanently.
• Adjective (Arrow):
  • The archer carefully checked each fledged arrow before the competition.

Advanced Usage

• "Newly-fledged" or "freshly-fledged": Often used to emphasize that a bird (or metaphorically, a person) has very recently become independent or competent.
  • The newly-fledged journalist was eager to write her first front-page story.
• "Fully-fledged": Used to indicate complete development, maturity, or official status. This is a common metaphorical extension.
  • After years of training, she became a fully-fledged surgeon.
  • The project evolved from an idea into a fully-fledged business.

Variants and Related Words

• Fledge (verb): To grow the feathers needed for flight; to rear a young bird until it can fly.
  • It takes about two weeks for the chicks to fledge.
• Fledgling (noun/adjective):
  • (Noun): A young bird that has just fledged; a person or organization that is new and inexperienced.

    • The fledgling struggled to keep up with its parent.
    • The company is still a fledgling in the tech industry.
  • (Adjective): New and inexperienced.

    • A fledgling democracy.

Synonyms

• Feathered: Having feathers (often used interchangeably for birds).
• Mature: Fully developed (in the metaphorical sense of "fully-fledged").
• Qualified: Officially recognized as competent (in the metaphorical sense of "fully-fledged").

Antonyms

• Unfledged: Not yet having developed flight feathers; immature.
• Fledgeless: Lacking feathers (less common).

Adjective

1. (of an arrow) equipped with feathers
2. (of birds) having developed feathers or plumage; often used in combination