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

Cutting those on probationary status may mean that people further up the food chain must perform entry-level tasks, which pulls them out of working in their normal zone of responsibility. —James Cramer, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2025

The fast food chain announced that U.S. sales dropped 3.6% and global sales dropped 1% this year in an earnings release shared on Thursday, May 1. —Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 8 May 2025

And even the fast food chain Wendy's joined in on the dunking. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 8 May 2025

The fast food chain confirmed to USA TODAY on May 5 that their square patties are available in select grocery stores in two markets. —Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 5 May 2025

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