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hierarchy

HY-ur-ar-kee /ˈhaɪə.rɑː.ki/

nounB2SATACTTOEFLIELTS

generalacademicbusiness

A system in which members of a society or organization are ranked according to relative status or authority.

Hierarchy implies a clear chain of command or ladder of importance, often formal, where each level is subordinate to the one above it.

The story behind the word. Originally, 'hierarchy' had a purely religious meaning. It was coined in the 4th century by a Christian theologian to describe the celestial ranking of angels. It eventually shifted from describing heavenly hosts to the earthly ranks of the priesthood, and finally to any ranked system of power.

Word relationships

pecking order: Pecking order is an informal, colloquial term derived from animal behavior, whereas hierarchy is formal and systematic.
chain of command: Chain of command is specifically military or administrative, focusing on communication and authority, while hierarchy is broader and can refer to status or value.

anarchy: Anarchy is the complete absence of a ruling authority or structured system of ranks.
flat organization: A flat organization deliberately removes layers of middle management to promote equality in decision-making.

Commonly confused with

oligarchy: A hierarchy is a general structure of ranked levels, whereas an oligarchy is a specific form of government ruled by a small group of people.

Word family

hierarchical (adjective): Arranged in order of rank or authority.
hierarchically (adverb): In a manner that is organized by rank.

Collocations

corporate hierarchy
strict hierarchy
social hierarchy
establish a hierarchy

Idioms & expressions

pecking order

Example sentences

"In a traditional corporate hierarchy, decisions flow downward from the executive suite to the entry-level employees." Corporate structure description
"Wolf packs establish a strict dominance hierarchy to maintain order and coordinate hunting efforts." Animal behavior study

Memory hook

Think of a 'higher-archy'—a system where those with more power stand higher up on the ladder than everyone else. Higher-archy: the higher you go, the more power you have.

When not to use

Do not use to describe a flat, decentralized network where all members have equal decision-making power.

Fun facts

The concept of a corporate hierarchy as we know it today was heavily modeled after the organizational structures of 19th-century Prussian military systems.