social mobility

American  

[soh-shuhl moh-bil-i-tee] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl moʊˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. Sociology. the movement of people in a population, as from place to place, from job to job, or from one social class or level to another.

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social mobility Cultural  

1. The ability of individuals or groups to move upward or downward in status based on wealth, occupation, education, or some other social variable.

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American society operates on the principle that an individual's achievements can be rewarded by upward social mobility.

Etymology

Origin of social mobility

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Pepys worked in the Navy Office in the City of London during a period of rapid social mobility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

The study also raises difficult questions about social mobility and public policy.

From Science Daily • May 6, 2026

The Sutton Trust, a charity that aims to improve social mobility and address educational disadvantage, said that gaining a degree from an elite university was the surest way to improve social mobility.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Many immigrant families, like Alex’s, are initially drawn to the U.S. with aspirations for education access and social mobility.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

After the Civil War and during the Reconstruction era, the federal government had opened jobs to blacks, providing social mobility particularly for those from educated backgrounds.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly