social climber
noun
a person who attempts to gain admission into a group with a higher social standing.
social climbing
-
a word derived from
social climber.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Showing an early aptitude for social climbing, Clarence Lapowski changed his name to Dillon days before entering college.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
Lindsay Lohan’s well-loved early comedies involve her playing characters pretending to be someone else: think of the chaotic swaps of “The Parent Trap” and “Freaky Friday,” or the social climbing of “Mean Girls.”
From New York Times ● Mar. 15, 2024
He would just as fervently applaud a character like David Copperfield for making his way up in the world as condemn Uriah Heep for social climbing.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 23, 2020
Davies wrote about social class and social climbing, crumbling ceilings and teen envy.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 24, 2019
The rest were there to participate in the great melodrama of social climbing and career advancement.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
