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

All of this will result in even greater unrest and angst as the wealth generated by the AI spending boom will largely go to the few CEOs and executives at the top of the food chain. —Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 19 Feb. 2026

For decades, cheeky daddy figures from Jack Paar and Johnny Carson to Jimmys Fallon and Kimmel sat atop the Hollywood food chain. —Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026

Plenty of food chains operating in Indiana have deals or limited-time menu items to accommodate your diet. —Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026

The fast food chain first dropped the menu item—along with its viral Pickle Menu—in 2025. —Molly Burford, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 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