hierarchical

adjective

hi·​er·​ar·​chi·​cal ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-ki-kəl 

 also  hir-ˈär-

variants or hierarchic

ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-kik 

 also  hir-ˈär-

: of, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy

a hierarchical society

a hierarchical order in the church

hierarchically

ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-ki-k(ə-)lē 

 also  hir-ˈär-

adverb

Examples of hierarchical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The name Pius, once a staple among papal choices, is unlikely to be chosen today; it is heavily associated with strong papal authority, traditionalism, and a more hierarchical Church. —Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025

Prompt: Break down my task of [insert task here] in three hierarchical layers. —Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

In the seventies and eighties, the Gangster Disciples, a large Black gang that originated on Chicago’s South Side, had a hierarchical structure, national reach, and strict operational procedures. —Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025

Scola, a former Archbishop of Milan, has deep theological roots and appeals to those who support a more centralized and hierarchical Church. —Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see hierarchy

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hierarchical

• anti-hierarchical

Rhymes for hierarchical

• oligarchical
• anarchical

Kids Definition

hierarchical

adjective

hi·​er·​ar·​chi·​cal ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-ki-kəl 

variants or hierarchic

-kik 

: of, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy

hierarchically

-ˈrär-ki-k(ə-)lē 

adverb