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

The outgoing president rails almost daily against reporters, the middle class, businessmen, social climbers and individualists.

From Seattle Times

What Glazer discovered at bedrock were not the lip-curling monsters of Hollywood’s Holocaust movies but social climbers looking to improve their status.

From Los Angeles Times

But with those social climbers called the D.C.

From Washington Post

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

A couple of manipulators, a couple of social climbers.

From Salon