noun
hierarchy
HIGH-uh-rahr-kee/ˈhaɪərɑːrki/
An organization of positions into successive levels of authority.
The chess pieces represent a hierarchy, with the king above rooks and pawns.
Etymology
Greek hierarkhia meant the rule of a high priest. Through its use for ranked orders of angels and clergy, the word expanded to any system organized by rank or status.
In context
the females remain in a group and they form a social hierarchy the higher status females have priority access to resources
More examples
- Each rank in the military hierarchy carries specific responsibilities.
- Smaller companies often have simpler hierarchies with fewer management levels.
- The church hierarchy meets to discuss the new policy.
Forms
hierarchy · hierarchies
hierarchical adjective — Arranged in successive levels of authority.
Similar words
- chain of command
- Specifies who reports to whom within an organization.
- ranking
- Orders people by position without necessarily assigning them authority.