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

Gone are the days of aspirational talk about sending humans to Mars and settling the red planet. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026

The point should be what the technology can offer to someone broke and aspirational without the same access as big artists. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026

Bet on a male lead who is aspirational and a female lead who is attractive — intellectually, emotionally, and physically. — Luka Ladan, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026

The verticality of these works can be seen as an aspirational self-portrait in which destruction and rebirth are literally and metaphorically merged. — John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 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