aspirational

adjective

as·​pi·​ra·​tion·​al ˌa-spə-ˈrā-sh(ə-)nəl 

: of, relating to, or characterized by aspiration

aspirational goals

: such as

a

: having or showing a desire to achieve a high level of success or social status

… private schools are patronised … by parents struggling to produce intelligent, clear-thinking, disciplined, polite, aspirational children …

—Katie Grant

b

: associated with or suggestive of a high level of success and social status and therefore appealing to people who aspire to such status

aspirational brands/products

aspirationally adverb

Examples of aspirational in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That registration happens quickly, and seeing a visibly fit leader helps establish an aspirational, high-performing culture. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

Many then offer a personalized roadmap of foods to eat, foods to avoid and probiotics to buy, with aspirational pitches around better digestion, energy, weight, mood and even longevity. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026

At the same time, aspirational consumers are pulling back due to steep price increases, so many luxury companies are increasingly focused on their highest-spending clients. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 17 June 2026

This is amusing but understandable; in an era where commodity fetishism has turned analog, low-budget cinema into something aspirational, Jenkin has made no compromises for accessibility. — Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

aspiration + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for aspirational

• avocational
• calculational
• combinational
• computational
• conformational
• confrontational
• congregational
• conversational
• correlational
• deformational
• derivational
• educational