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

---

upward mobility Cultural  

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

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

upward mobility

Survey respondents said the dream's key elements were personal freedom, financial security and homeownership, and success and upward mobility.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

It suggests that even in an economy with high employment, many workers run into an invisible barrier to upward mobility just when their careers are supposed to gain momentum.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

Across the San Gabriel Valley, the article finds a pervasive sense of economic strain and declining faith in upward mobility.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2026

The good news is the schools doing the most for upward mobility aren’t the ones closing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026

The sense of upward mobility was central to the ideal of Levittown.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove