Meaning & use

hierarchy

noun·Academic

A system that ranks people or things in order of status, authority, or importance.

See it in a sentence

The company's hierarchy places the CEO above all regional managers.

In the ancient hierarchy, priests often ranked just below the king.

A note on using this word

"Hierarchy" applies to organizations, social structures, and even ideas, as in a "hierarchy of needs."

Words with a similar meaning

rankingorderchain of command

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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