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
Examples of hierarchical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This theory centered a relatively sophisticated mind as the defining attribute of our species, and thus was consistent with ancient hierarchical taxonomies that placed man, with his ability to reason, apart from and above the beasts.
—
Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
But many people are also exasperated with the doctors, despite the exalted position that physicians hold in South Korea’s hierarchical society.
—Jin Yu Young, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Many groups formed hierarchical class systems and were ruled by powerful leaders who claimed supernatural powers—not unlike kings who ruled by divine right in Europe.
—Kathleen Duval, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Encouraging leaders to work alongside employees breaks down hierarchical barriers, promoting a culture of openness and collective growth.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Leisure time has always been a part of the human experience, but its role has shifted over time, differing between cultures and across hierarchical classes.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
There was a time for hierarchical, command-and-control organizations–the 19th century, to be exact, when many workers were illiterate, information traveled at a snail’s pace, and strict adherence to rules offered the competitive advantage of reliability.
—Bill Anderson, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2024
Within the vast and hierarchical fire service, smokejumpers occupy a singular niche, parachuting into remote areas to fight early-stage wildfires.
—ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2024
Further, this approach is only useful for large or hierarchical organizations and might be overwhelming for flat or small organizations.
—Dipak Kulkarni, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
But many people are also exasperated with the doctors, despite the exalted position that physicians hold in South Korea’s hierarchical society.
—Jin Yu Young, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Many groups formed hierarchical class systems and were ruled by powerful leaders who claimed supernatural powers—not unlike kings who ruled by divine right in Europe.
—Kathleen Duval, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Encouraging leaders to work alongside employees breaks down hierarchical barriers, promoting a culture of openness and collective growth.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Leisure time has always been a part of the human experience, but its role has shifted over time, differing between cultures and across hierarchical classes.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
There was a time for hierarchical, command-and-control organizations–the 19th century, to be exact, when many workers were illiterate, information traveled at a snail’s pace, and strict adherence to rules offered the competitive advantage of reliability.
—Bill Anderson, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2024
Within the vast and hierarchical fire service, smokejumpers occupy a singular niche, parachuting into remote areas to fight early-stage wildfires.
—ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2024
Further, this approach is only useful for large or hierarchical organizations and might be overwhelming for flat or small organizations.
—Dipak Kulkarni, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hierarchical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hierarchical
Cite this Entry
“Hierarchical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hierarchical. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hierarchical
adjective
hi·er·ar·chi·cal
ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-ki-kəl
variants
or hierarchic
: of, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share