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

Football should be worried that these clubs — Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth, Fulham and Leeds, probably the most aspirational clubs in the country — think something isn’t good for football. —Andy Naylor, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025

Others, like former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, become aspirational celebrities in other ways. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 11 Dec. 2025

Filled with the most inspiring, glamorous, and aspirational homes featured in the magazine’s pages throughout the last 10 years, global editorial director Amy Astley offers a behind-the-scenes look into your favorite celebrity homes. —Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 9 Dec. 2025

To some, the era has become something aspirational. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025

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