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

The most significant improvement is seen among aspirational consumers, though. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 7 July 2026

Too silly for any real person to say, this kind of sentence is practically compulsory in a certain aspirational strain of women’s entertainment. — Judy Berman, Time, 6 July 2026

For some, the aspirational quality of the event was deeply satisfying. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2026

The store becomes both destination and theatre, capturing domestic consumers, tourists and aspirational shoppers who may never step inside the All England Club. — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 2 July 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