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.
In football, the programs are middle-class, capable of both upward mobility and collapse. Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 This acknowledgment of white privilege is what Vance leaves out of his story of upward mobility. Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025 Homeownership has long been a North Star for those seeking upward mobility. Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025 For decades, a diploma was the ticket to upward mobility. Jason Wingard, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Upward mobility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upward%20mobility. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on upward mobility

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