aspirational

[ as-puh-rey-shuh-nl ]

/ ˌæs pəˈreɪ ʃə nl /

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adjective

relating to or characterized by aspiration or a strong desire for something: their aspirational goals for the New Year.

aimed at or appealing to people who want to attain a higher social position or standard of living: a magazine featuring aspirational products for the home.

Medicine/Medical. relating to the act of removing a fluid from a body cavity or of inhaling a fluid into the lungs.

Phonetics. relating to articulation involving an audible puff of breath.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of aspirational

aspiration + -al¹

Words nearby aspirational

Aspinwall, aspirant, aspirata, aspirate, aspiration, aspirational, aspirator, aspiratory, aspire, aspirin, aspiring

How to use aspirational in a sentence

They were all fledgling quarterbacks in some way when James became an aspirational figure with how he reimagined a superstar’s role in team building.
The NFL’s top QBs are waking up to their power, following Tom Brady and LeBron James|Jerry Brewer|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
No shade to anyone who happily binged through it in a lockdown haze, but that show was pure, aspirational fluff.
The 11 Weirdest Golden Globe Nominations—And What Should Have Been Nominated Instead|Eliana Dockterman|February 3, 2021|Time
Worth noting that the polling was completed before her surprising announcement last Thursday, which she shared with members of Fortune’s CEO Initiative, that GM has set an “aspirational goal” of eliminating all tail pipe emissions by 2035.
The top two underrated CEOs|Alan Murray|February 1, 2021|Fortune
Among the numerous subspecies he skewers are the loiterer, conspiracy theorist, bearded pensioner, occultist and aspirational parent.
When I find fiction too draining, I turn to books about books. They can be as thrilling as a whodunit.|Michael Dirda|January 27, 2021|Washington Post

We are trying to separate the aspirational from the intentional.
U.S. prosecutors eye 400 potential suspects, expect sedition charges ‘very soon’ in Jan. 6 Capitol breach|Spencer Hsu, Rachel Weiner, Devlin Barrett|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
This does not really address the aspirational reasons why so many Americans have been migrating to this region.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats|Joel Kotkin|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Collectively, these young women are making entrepreneurship not just aspirational, but a little bit edgy.
Basics Beware: We're All Girl Bosses Now|Rachel Hills|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mattel successfully marketed them with jingles copping to the aspirational nature of their use.
Happy Bday Barbie! You're Over|Brandy Zadrozny|March 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nowadays, the SEIU and other groups seem to see flipping burgers as positively aspirational.
Big Labor’s Big Mac Attack|Nick Gillespie|December 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Everywhere online, users are posting aspirational pictures of thigh gaps, used as inspiration for weight loss and dieting.
Robyn Lawley: Why The Dangerous “Thigh Gap” Trend Makes Me Mad|Robyn Lawley|October 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Is not our horrible competitive civilization at last going to choke all aspirational life into silence?
The Life and Letters of Lafcadio Hearn, Volume 2|Elizabeth Bisland
His infatuation is known as el howa el'adhry (pure, or aspirational love).
The Syrian Christ|Abraham Mitrie Rihbany
Can there possibly be friendships where there is no aspirational life?
The Life and Letters of Lafcadio Hearn, Volume 2|Elizabeth Bisland