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

Based on the traditional demographics of college attendees, this disproportionately affects younger and lower-income individuals—those who were supposed to benefit from the promise of upward mobility via education. —Mike De Vere, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025

These deals are cloaked in financial engineering, but their real impact is socioeconomic: fewer owners, fewer options, less upward mobility. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 July 2025

Advertisement Congress’ plans to fund the program would go a long way toward continuing to realize Pell’s promise as an engine of upward mobility. —Kim Cook, Time, 1 July 2025

Despite the program’s struggles over the past decade, upward mobility in the conference is readily available. —Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 19 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upward mobility

• acceptability
• accessibility
• adaptability
• admissibility
• advisability
• affordability
• allowability
• amenability
• amiability
• appealability
• applicability
• availability