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 traditional layout of closed, hierarchical office spaces has been replaced with an open office concept featuring glass partitions and bright, interconnected rooms, to encourage team collaboration. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025

That comfort level — and Netflix's famously un-hierarchical corporate culture — have helped maintain a dual CEO structure without turf wars and while serving shareholders, Sarandos told Iger, according to the people familiar. —Alex Sherman, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025

Yet both relied on existing file formats and hierarchical menus. —Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025

A week before Zhang‘s latest sentencing, China’s top lawmakers passed a bill to accelerate public health emergency responses by allowing people to report emergencies, bypassing the government’s usual hierarchical structure. —Reuters, NBC news, 22 Sep. 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