: 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
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.
Consumers are buying into a version of America that exists in the cultural imagination, whether that’s New York sophistication, California optimism, modern Western heritage or a broader aspirational lifestyle. Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, a memory chip shortage threatens to squeeze its margins, its revenue growth is slowing, and even longtime Apple fans admit the maker of aspirational tech has lost some of its product design mojo. Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 Those observations will inform an aspirational future mission — the Habitable Worlds Observatory, which aims to view Earth-like planets more than 1 billion times dimmer than their host stars. Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Demand is shifting toward products that remove friction—digestive, sensory, and logistical—so that consistent intake becomes realistic rather than aspirational. Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aspirational

Word History

Etymology

aspiration + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aspirational was in 1866

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aspirational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aspirational. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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