unfulfilled

Unfulfilled is an adjective that describes something that has not been fulfilled, satisfied, or completed. It can refer to desires, promises, obligations, or potential that remains unrealized. The word is formed by adding the negating prefix un- to fulfill, a verb meaning to complete or satisfy a need, request, or expectation.

Common uses describe personal or emotional states (an unfulfilled longing), professional or educational outcomes (unfulfilled potential), or contractual commitments (unfulfilled promises or obligations). In psychological or sociological contexts, unfulfillment is often linked to unmet needs or long-standing aspirations, and it may contribute to feelings of dissatisfaction or alienation.

Unfulfilled is distinct from unfulfilling, which describes something that causes unfulfillment rather than describing the thing itself. For example, an unfulfilling job may leave an employee feeling unfulfilled, whereas unfulfilled goals refer to goals that have not yet been achieved.

In economics and supply discussions, the term can appear in phrases such as unfulfilled demand, though more common terms are unmet or unsatisfied demand. In literature and film, characters’ unfulfilled desires or dreams are frequently used as motifs to explore themes of longing and growth.

Related terms include fulfilled and fulfillment, which denote completion or satisfaction of needs, and unfulfillment as a noun indicating the state of not being fulfilled. The concept is widely used in discussions of personal development, relationships, and social or cultural expectations.