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

Ambitious political hacks are always looking to move up the food chain, and being mayor of Los Angeles is the next step up the ladder. —John Phillips, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026

Fast food chain Wendy's faced backlash after announcing a similar move in February 2024. —Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026

There are more than 100 rodent control chemicals that remain available for use on private land under current regulations, including humane types that do not move up the food chain, such as chemicals that control rodent fertility. —Arkansas Online, 20 Jan. 2026

From tiny plankton that form the basis of the marine food chain to massive whales, the global oceans support complex and extensive ecosystems. —Veronika Meduna, Forbes.com, 17 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