american dream
HighFormal, Academic, Journalistic, Informal (in specific contexts)
Definition
Meaning
The ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.
The belief in social mobility, personal freedom, home ownership, and financial success as central elements of life in the United States. It often implies the opportunity for prosperity and upward mobility for families and children, achieved in a society with few barriers.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is inherently ideologically and historically loaded, originating from and deeply tied to US national identity. It can be used affirmatively, critically, or ironically. Its meaning has evolved, and its attainability is often a subject of public and political debate.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primary cultural and political reference is to the United States. In the UK, it is used almost exclusively to discuss or reference US society, culture, or politics.
Connotations
In the US: deeply embedded in national discourse, can be positive (aspirational) or negative (critique of inequality). In the UK: typically an external reference point, often used analytically or comparatively.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English. In British English, it appears in contexts discussing US affairs, comparative sociology, or as a cultural import.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SUBJ + pursue/achieve/live + the American dreamThe American dream + is (ADJ: alive/dead/fading/elusive)for + NP (e.g., immigrants) + the American dream + means + NP/CLAUSEVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Chasing the American dream”
- “The dream is alive (or dead).”
- “A ticket to the American dream.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing to signify success, luxury, or achievement (e.g., 'This car is part of the American dream').
Academic
Analyzed in sociology, history, and political science regarding social mobility, inequality, and national ideology.
Everyday
Used in conversation about goals, home buying, career success, or when discussing politics and society.
Technical
Not typically used in highly technical fields (e.g., engineering). Relevant in socio-economic analysis and discourse analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They have spent decades **American-dreaming** of a better life, a concept imported from films.
- He's not just working; he's **American-dreaming** his way to the top.
American English
- They are **American-dreaming** their way to suburbia.
- He **American-dreamed** his entire career path from the start.
adverb
British English
- They lived **American-dreamly**, focusing solely on material ascent. (Note: Highly marked, non-standard)
American English
- He worked **American-dream hard**, putting in 80-hour weeks. (Note: Colloquial, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- It was a very **American-dream** narrative of self-made success.
- The film explores **American-dream** mythology.
American English
- They bought the house for its **American-dream** appeal.
- It's the ultimate **American-dream** success story.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Many people go to America for the American dream.
- The American dream is a big house and a good job.
- My grandparents moved to the US to pursue the American dream.
- For many, the American dream means owning your own home.
- The notion that the American dream is accessible to everyone has been widely debated.
- He felt he had finally achieved the American dream when he started his own successful business.
- Critics argue that the American dream is an ideological construct that obscures systemic barriers to social mobility.
- The author's novel deconstructs the mythology of the American dream through the tragic arc of its protagonist.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the classic image: a house with a white picket fence, two cars in the driveway, and a family. This iconic picture is the visual shorthand for the 'American dream'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE DESIRED LIFE IS A DREAM (to be pursued and attained); THE NATION IS A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating it word-for-word as 'американская мечта' without understanding its cultural weight; the term exists as a loan translation but carries specific historical connotations not inherent in the Russian phrase.
- Do not confuse with a literal dream (сон). It is a socio-political concept, not a nighttime vision.
- The term 'dream' here is about aspiration, not illusion, though critics may play on that double meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to refer to any Western country's ideals (e.g., 'the Canadian dream' is not a standard equivalent).
- Using it without the definite article 'the' (incorrect: 'He achieved American dream'; correct: 'He achieved the American dream').
- Capitalizing it unnecessarily outside of titles (usually not 'American Dream').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'American dream' LEAST likely to be used authentically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, traditionally it encompasses broader ideals like freedom, equality of opportunity, personal fulfillment, and family security, though material success is often a central component.
The phrase specifically refers to the US national ethos. People in other countries might be said to 'dream of' or 'pursue' the American dream if they aspire to immigrate to the US to achieve that specific set of ideals.
The phrase was popularized by historian James Truslow Adams in his 1931 book 'The Epic of America,' where he defined it as 'that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement.'
This is a subject of intense debate. Proponents point to countless success stories, while critics cite rising inequality, student debt, and housing costs as significant barriers. Perceptions of its attainability vary greatly.