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

Though the American steakhouse originated in New York City, Las Vegas helped propagate and elevate the genre into the ultimate form of aspirational dining. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

The dignity of such aspirational, agentic citizenship and its contrast with the legalistic, subject citizenship of colonies and empires left its mark on our own state. — Trygve Throntveit, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 2026

Take your commute time or those moments before sleep to envision yourself in aspirational scenarios. — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2026

Those dollar figures are aspirational, however, as pay has not kept up for many workers. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 27 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