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

Their concentrations then increase at successively higher trophic levels (levels of the food chain) as organisms consume contaminated prey. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026

Four years after the ice cream truck classic was discontinued in 2022, the fast food chain is rolling out a collaboration with Salt & Straw. — Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

The sport of pro wrestling includes a wide range of promotions that features WWE and AEW at the top of the food chain. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

The two fast food chains have a storied history of releasing similar menu items in an effort to win over customers. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 1 Sep. 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