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

This agreeableness has given scientists deep insights into their social lives.

From Slate • May 10, 2026

Moms are moving on from micromanaging their kids’ academic, extracurricular and social lives.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

"Contrary to commonly held perceptions of sharks, our study shows they have relatively rich and complex social lives," said Professor Darren Croft, from Exeter's Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour.

From Science Daily • Mar. 17, 2026

"It should reassure citizens that they retain the agency to shape their political and social lives."

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

Similar patterns probably dominated the social lives of early humans, including archaic Homo sapiens.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari