noun

hierarchy

/ˈhaɪərɑːrkɪ/ · say it: HY·er·ar·kee

a system ranked by level or authority

In Formal & Academic

In more detail

1. (noun) a system in which people or things are arranged in levels of importance, with the most powerful at the top

2. (noun) the group of people who have the most power in an organization

Examples

1. In a school hierarchy, the principal is at the top and students are at the bottom.
2. The company's hierarchy includes executives, managers, and workers.

How to use hierarchy

Hierarchy describes a formal system of ranking or authority where position determines power, status, or responsibility. It is used in organizational, social, and institutional contexts to explain vertical ordering. It is more formal and systematic than the colloquial 'pecking order,' which has a lighter, more dismissive tone.

Common phrases

corporate hierarchy
social hierarchy
climb the hierarchy
at the top of the hierarchy
organizational hierarchy
hierarchical structure

Synonyms

ranking · pecking order · chain of command · organizational structure · stratification

Opposites

equality · egalitarianism

Word family

hierarchical · hierarchically · hierarchist

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'the hierarchy' to mean only the top leaders (sense 2) when the word primarily refers to the entire system of levels (sense 1). While sense 2 is valid, sense 1 is more standard and frequent.

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