<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-30</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000809398</issuerCik><issuerName>FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL INC /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>FNF</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001016795</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>IMPARATO WILLIAM A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>4800 NORTH SCOTTSDALE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 6000</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>85251-7630</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>29</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5252</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>29.19</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4242</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ William A. Imparato</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

