ascriptive status

/əˈskrɪptɪv ˈsteɪtəs/

noun phrase

  1. A social position assigned to a person by birth or social circumstance rather than earned through individual effort or choice; also called ascribed status and contrasted with achieved status.

    C2

    usually uncountable; technicalsociology

    • "Age is an ascriptive status because you cannot choose it."A2
    • "In some societies, family background is an ascriptive status that affects your opportunities."B1
    • "Sociologists contrast ascriptive status, such as caste or gender, with achieved status, which people earn through their actions."B2

Word family

ascribeascriptionascribedascribable