Phrase guide

social climber

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

One who tries to improve his or her social status, especially by means of obsequious behaviour.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

someone seeking social prominence by obsequious behavior

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: climber

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: upstart, parvenu, nouveau-riche, arriviste

Narrower terms: lion-hunter

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: karrieremager — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Danish: stræber — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Finnish: pyrkyri — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Finnish: kiipijä — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • French: arriviste — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • French: grimpeur — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • German: Karrierist — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • German: (sozialer) Aufsteiger — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Greek: αριβίστας (arivístas) — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Indonesian: panjat sosial — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Polish: karierowicz — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Polish: karierowiczka — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Portuguese: alpinista social — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Portuguese: arrivista — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Spanish: trepador — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Spanish: trepa — one who tries to improve his or her social position
  • Spanish: arribista — one who tries to improve his or her social position