social climber

American  

noun

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

---

social climber British  

noun

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

---

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

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

From Slate ● May 4, 2023

The season three episode “Chiantishire,” which takes place at Caroline’s wedding to an unabashed social climber, offers some insight into Shiv’s relationship with her mom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2023

Coon plays Bertha Russell, a relentless and monomaniacal social climber who, a century later, could have been an especially coldblooded CEO of a Fortune 500 firm.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 23, 2022

Or was she an overly forward social climber?

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock