# social ladder

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/social-ladder
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The hierarchy of a society.

## Examples

- He wants to climb the social ladder to meet important people.
- She attended every exclusive party in the city, hoping to climb the social ladder and improve her career prospects.
- His relentless ambition drove him to abandon his humble roots as he sought to ascend the social ladder of the city's elite.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.