Level planet for social climbers (8)

I believe the answer is:

parvenus

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'social climbers' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'level planet' is the wordplay.
'level' becomes 'par' (I have seen 'Accepted level ' mean 'par' so perhaps 'level' could also mean 'par').
'planet' becomes 'venus' (Venus is an example).
'par'+'venus'='PARVENUS'

'for' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for parvenus that I've seen is " They have risen".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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