social mobility

[soh-shuhl moh-bil-i-tee]

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.

social mobility

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of social mobility¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

But it increased inequality and decreased social mobility.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

See our full overall ranking and explore other rankings focused on student experiences, salary impact, social mobility and best value.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Tony Blair set the target over 20 years ago to boost social mobility when he was prime minister, and the symbolic 50% mark was passed for the first time in 2019.

Read more on BBC

Indeed, I believe that affirmative action belongs right in the same exalted company as the GI bill as a significant positive transformational mechanism for American society, social mobility.

Read more on Slate

“It’s really about building a complete social mobility ecosystem,” says Ken Craft, CEO of Hope the Mission.

Read more on Los Angeles Times