aspirational

[as-puh-rey-shuh-nl]

adjective

1. relating to or characterized by aspiration or a strong desire for something.

   their aspirational goals for the New Year.

2. 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.

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspirational¹

aspiration + -al ¹

Example Sentences

She said scrapping stamp duty - a tax on the sale of homes in England and Northern Ireland - will "unlock a fairer and more aspirational society" and help people of all ages.

From BBC

This is partly related to the aspirational nature of much fitness content on social media, particularly targeting young men.

From BBC

When the city and the Walt Disney Co. — then the owner of the Angels — agreed on that stadium lease in 1996, the 2.6 million figure was largely aspirational.

From Los Angeles Times

Seen through a historically accurate lens, America has only been a multiracial democracy — and an aspirational one in progress — for about sixty years.

From Salon

These claims, however, seem to be more aspirational than real — at least that’s what the raw figures are showing.

From Los Angeles Times