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

Instead, Wiig takes center stage as Maxine Simmons, an ambitious social climber in the rarefied Palm Beach society.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2024

In “Palm Royale,” which premiered on March 20, Wiig stars as Maxine, a frenzied social climber in 1960s Palm Beach.

From New York Times ● Apr. 3, 2024

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

From Slate ● May 4, 2023

As Joanne Kaufman reported in the Wall Street journal, Ms. Pittman was known in certain elevated circles more as a social climber than mountain climber.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer