aspirational

American  

[as-puh-rey-shuh-nl] / ˌæs pəˈreɪ ʃə 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.

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Etymology

Origin of aspirational

aspiration + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Nonetheless, after the beating stocks have taken, suddenly 7000 on the S&P 500 sounds aspirational rather than merely adequate.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

That's essentially the aspirational upper middle class and not the mass market, but a large enough gap for British universities to exploit.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

These details, combined with Wainwright’s creative flair, have helped to create a space that is not only aspirational, but also inspirational.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

His brilliant and gentle-voiced Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch is as aspirational a character on television as we’ve ever seen.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

Even the American Bar Association’s standards of practice for prosecutors are purely aspirational; no prosecutor is required to follow the standards or even consider them.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander