echelon

noun

ˈe-shə-ˌlän How to pronounce echelon (audio)
Definition of echelonnext
as in level
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement jobs in the upper echelons of the company pay quite well indeed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of echelon After folding into Kawasaki, Bimota has returned to the upper echelons of motorsport as well, taking over the factory WorldSBK team in 2025. — Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026 The materials and craftsmanship are consistent with a garment that belonged to the highest echelons of Elizabeth’s English court. — Filippo Iarocci, Vanity Fair, 19 Sep. 2026 The pattern has been skewed by higher incomes collected by those in the higher echelons of wage workers, like corporate chief executives, entertainers and professional athletes. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 Willard, in Year Two, built a roster that can lead the Wildcats back into the upper echelon of the sport; the most notable addition being 7-foot-3 Italian center Luigi Suigo, who could be the top international prospect in the next NBA Draft. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for echelon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for echelon
  1. level
  2. ranking
  3. rank
  4. position
  5. place
Noun
  • Poland also has over 86,000 places of refuge offering a lower level of protection such as basements, underground garages or subway stations, and catering for around 23 million people.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The yield on 30-year Treasurys briefly hit its highest level since 2002, with traders pricing in a 90% likelihood of a Federal Reserve rate hike by year-end driven by concerns over inflation.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of level
Noun
  • Florida earned its highest ranking since 2020 after a 4-0 start few could have seen coming.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • That’s received a lot of attention, but the starting rotation was only barely better, ranking 25th in ERA.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of ranking
Noun
  • Beating Alabama would vault them up even higher in the ranks and silence some of the naysayers.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Argentina, a Group of 20 nation of 46 million people home to a vast Patagonian wilderness and culturally vibrant capital, is set to become the first South American country to join their ranks.
    — Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of rank
Noun
  • Before Torres was appointed to the administrative position, his salary as a police officer was $135,000.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The New York representative has been a big name in the Democratic Socialists of America as socialists establish a political foothold in positions across the country.
    — Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of position
Noun
  • Thanks to its waves of immigration, there are lots of excellent Japanese, Italian and Middle Eastern restaurants, but there are also plenty of wonderful Brazilian places.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 4 Oct. 2026
  • On rainy days and sunny days alike, this is a worthwhile place to come nerd out.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of place

Browse Nearby Words

ecclesiastics
echelon
echelons
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Echelon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/echelon. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of discreet

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All