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

Nationalism is not stagnant and not hierarchical. —Robert A. Pape In The Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026

Before the war, American science had been notably less hierarchical than in many European institutions. —Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Feb. 2026

That reorients a different hierarchical structure, a different lens of consideration. —Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2026

There is always this weird, uncomfortable hierarchical relationship, where the journalist might feel superior, or the subject feels that way. —Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026

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