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

Traditional library classification follows hierarchical structures. —Big Think, 9 Feb. 2026

The character of the Western alliance shifts—less pluralist, less liberal, more hierarchical, more majoritarian. —Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026

And in a world where hierarchical ambition is no longer the sole goal in career development, putting a priority on wellness and recovery is going to set some organizations apart. —Adrian Gostick, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026

Dogs kept some of their hierarchical instincts, replacing alpha wolves with their human masters. —Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 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