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

As those roles have eroded, particularly in places where stable work has disappeared, the left has offered few alternatives that feel tangible or aspirational. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025

Martha Stewart faced early critiques for being too polished, too aspirational, too perfect. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

This vision of parenthood may seem less aspirational. —Jessica Slice, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2025

The idea was mostly aspirational, and Licklider wasn’t able to turn it into a real project. —ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 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