social climber

American  

noun

1. a person who attempts to gain admission into a group with a higher social standing.

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social climber British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: climber.  a person who seeks advancement to a higher social class, esp by obsequious behaviour

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Other Word Forms

• social climbing
  noun

Etymology

Origin of social climber

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

social climber

Wharton’s relentless social climber, Undine Spragg, is named after the hair product that made her father his fortune.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

A hilarious entourage attempts to fend off Théodore Pellerin’s awkward social climber with the year’s most perilous, pitfall-laden dialogue.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2026

He is a vain social climber, easily fooled by his clever, beautiful young wife.

From Slate ● May 4, 2023

Because Odette spends her evenings at Madame Verdurin’s, Swann stoically endures the company of that supercilious social climber and her sycophantic hangers-on.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 3, 2022

Or was she an overly forward social climber?

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock