upward mobility

noun

: the capacity or facility for rising to a higher social or economic position
upwardly mobile adjective

Examples of upward mobility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There have been a lot of great ideas bubbling up around how to start building things again, and thereby unlock more income opportunity, upward mobility, and a better standard of living. Jason Fields, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025 Growth And Upward Mobility After workplace flexibility, the next biggest factor workers would accept a pay cut for is upward mobility. Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025 Congressional budget negotiators have this year looked at using work requirements to cut Medicaid and promote upward mobility. Stephen Eide, National Review, 3 May 2025 When the pendulum swung during the Progressive Era, reformers pushed the government to impose new rules that gave workers a better quality of life and a fairer chance at upward mobility. Peter Georgescu, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for upward mobility

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of upward mobility was in 1949

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Cite this Entry

“Upward mobility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upward%20mobility. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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