hierarchy

hi·er·ar·chy

noun
\ˈhī-(ə-)ˌrär-kē also ˈhi(-ə)r-ˌär-\

plural hi·er·ar·chies

Definition of HIERARCHY

1

: a division of angels

2

a : a ruling body of clergy organized into orders or ranks each subordinate to the one above it; especially : the bishops of a province or nation b : church government by a hierarchy

3

: a body of persons in authority

4

: the classification of a group of people according to ability or to economic, social, or professional standing; also : the group so classified

5

: a graded or ranked series <a hierarchy of values>

Examples of HIERARCHY

1. The church hierarchy faced resistance to some of their decisions.
2. He was at the bottom of the corporate hierarchy.
3. a rigid hierarchy of social classes

Origin of HIERARCHY

Middle English ierarchie rank or order of holy beings, from Anglo-French jerarchie, from Medieval Latin hierarchia, from Late Greek, from Greek hierarchēs

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to HIERARCHY

Rhymes with HIERARCHY

matriarchy, patriarchy, oligarchy