English · Culture & Society
social mobility
/ˌsəʊ.ʃəl məʊˈbɪl.ə.ti/
[/ˌsəʊ.ʃəl məʊˈbɪl.ə.ti/]
movement between classes
Advancednoun
Definition
The ability of people to move up or down between social and economic classes. High social mobility means background does not fix one's future.
Example
Good schools can improve social mobility by giving poorer children a real chance to succeed.
Good schools can improve social mobility by giving poorer children a real chance to succeed.
Etymology
A compound of 'social' and 'mobility' (from Latin 'mobilitas', movableness).
How & Where It’s Used
Used in sociology, economics, and policy debate.