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

From there, nanoplastics and microplastics often enter the food chain—and, in turn, us. —Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2026

Other than asking customers for menu item inspiration, the fast food chain turned to a beloved cartoon for some ideas. —Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026

The fast food chain says the McRib is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers nationwide. —Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026

Further down the private company food chain, things are more complicated. —Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 6 Jan. 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