chain of command

noun phrase

: a series of executive positions in order of authority
a military chain of command

Examples of chain of command in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, there are guardrails in place, including sending the copy of the posts up the chain of command, including to Robertson and the sheriff. Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025 Now, the Trump administration is going further up the chain of command in the state, and taking aim at the superintendent. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025 On April 14, the Department of Defense shared a post on the social platform X showcasing a photo of the wall of the chain of command where Trump, Hegseth and Vice President Vance’s photos were turned around to face a wall. Filip Timotija, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025 Legacies of Vietnam Berry and Chambers were both officers who had to make decisions – outside or against the chain of command – that saved lives during the fall of Saigon, which was soon renamed Ho Chi Minh City by the victorious North Vietnamese. Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chain of command

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chain of command was in 1825

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chain of command.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chain%20of%20command. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!