upward mobility

British  

noun

1. sociol the movement of an individual, social group, or class to a position of increased status or power Compare downward mobility See also horizontal mobility vertical mobility

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upward mobility Cultural  

1. Rising from a lower to a higher social class or status. (See also social mobility.)

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Example Sentences

Having a roof over your head is a fundamental human need and is a foundation for financial stability and upward mobility.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

I am very good at what I do, but there is limited upward mobility for this position.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

Beyond the devastating personal impacts of workplace harassment, it can also cause lasting economic harm to employees by stunting their life-time earnings, undermining their upward mobility and even prompting them to change careers entirely.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

But the postwar idea of upward mobility was always contingent on certain fundamentals: strong institutions, affordable education, accessible homeownership and stable work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

Which brings me to the second part of our upward mobility.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides