food chain

noun

1

: an arrangement of the organisms of an ecological community according to the order of predation in which each uses the next usually lower member as a food source

2

: a hierarchy based on power or importance

at the top of the corporate food chain

Examples of food chain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The fast food chain, which recently stopped using lettuce from Taylor Farms amid links to a cyclosporiasis outbreak, is offering a $1 Mexican pizza deal on Tuesday, July 28, according to a post on its Instagram. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026

In countries where rugby sits close to the top of the sporting food chain, the best young athletes often find their way into the game naturally. — Daniel Gallan, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Warming oceans can also fuel harmful algal blooms that produce toxins capable of moving through the food chain. — Denis Akbari, USA Today, 24 July 2026

Organisms attached to the reef will attract fish, which will support other wildlife up the food chain. — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for food chain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Kids Definition

food chain

noun

: a series of organisms in which each uses the next usually lower member of the series as a food source