hierarchy

UK /ˈhaɪərɑːki/ US /ˈhaɪəˌrɑrki/ Syllables: hi-er-ar-chy

Pronunciation

Noun B2 Upper-intermediate Neutral

A system in which people or things are ranked one above another according to power, importance, or status.

A hierarchy is a system in which people or things are ranked one above another by power, importance or status. A company has a hierarchy of managers, an army has a hierarchy of ranks, and a school can teach a hierarchy of skills. In a hierarchy, each level is under the one above it. Close words are ranking, order, chain of command, pecking order and ladder. The opposite is equality, or a flat structure in which no one outranks anyone. The adjective is hierarchical. The word also describes the leaders of an organization, as in the church hierarchy. The first part comes from a Greek word meaning holy, because the word first described the ranks of priests.

"New employees quickly learn where they fit in the company hierarchy."

Meanings

A system in which people or things are ranked one above another according to power, importance or status.
The leaders or officials of an organization, such as a church, arranged in ranks.

Example sentences

"The company has a strict hierarchy."

Level B2, Meaning 1
"Wolves live in packs with a clear hierarchy."

Level B2, Meaning 1
"She rose quickly through the hierarchy."

Level B2, Meaning 1
"The teacher showed a hierarchy of needs on the board."

Level C1, Meaning 1
"In the old hierarchy, nobles stood above merchants."

Level C1, Meaning 1

Synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms

ranking order

Look-alikes and common mistakes

heirarchy : Heirarchy is a common misspelling. The correct spelling is hierarchy, with i before e.
anarchy : Anarchy is the absence of rule. It shares the arch ending, meaning rule, but means the opposite.
monarchy : Monarchy is rule by one person such as a king or queen. It is one kind of hierarchy.
pecking order : Pecking order is an informal phrase for a social hierarchy.

Word family and forms

Forms: hierarchies

hierarchical hierarchist hierarch antihierarchy

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "hierarchy".

a social hierarchy
a corporate hierarchy
a strict hierarchy
climb the hierarchy
a clear hierarchy
a hierarchy of needs
top of the hierarchy

Origin

Hierarchy came into English in the late 1300s as Middle English jerarchie, from Old French and Medieval Latin hierarchia, from Greek hierarkhia, meaning the rule of a high priest. The Greek word joins hieros, meaning holy, with a form meaning rule. The h was put back around 1500 under the influence of Latin.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.

Usage notes

"Climb the hierarchy" is a common phrase describing rising in rank within an organization.

How to remember it

Picture a pyramid or a ladder. The top step has the most power and each step down has less. That shape is a hierarchy.

Test yourself

Which word fits the gap? "The company has a strict _____."

Answer: hierarchy

In your own words, what does "hierarchy" mean?