wish fulfillment

noun

: the gratification of a desire especially symbolically (as in dreams, daydreams, or neurotic symptoms)

Examples of wish fulfillment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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For many viewers, The Devil Wears Prada 2 will be another dollop of high-fashion wish fulfillment, a chance to once again gain access to an exclusive realm of air kisses and luxury-brand window shopping. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026 There was a little bit of a wish fulfillment with the character who came around at the end and embraced medicine. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026 And yet, unlike most of Shakespeare’s other tragic heroes, Hamlet also represents a kind of wish fulfillment. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026 The scene, a bungled reflection on wish fulfillment, brought the pop show to a screeching halt. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wish fulfillment

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wish fulfillment was in 1908

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Cite this Entry

“Wish fulfillment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wish%20fulfillment. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

Medical Definition

wish fulfillment

noun
wish ful·​fill·​ment
-mənt
: the gratification of a desire especially symbolically (as in dreams or fantasies)
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