Synonyms of pecking order

pecking order

noun

variants also peck order

as in hierarchy

the way in which people or things in a group or organization are placed in a series of levels with different importance or status

As an assistant manager, he was pretty low in the company's pecking order.

Related Words

• hierarchy
• ranking
• food chain
• ladder
• standing
• scale
• graduation
• distribution
• series
• disposal
• level
• sequence
• setup
• ordering
• arrangement
• situation
• status
• disposition
• degree
• array
• position
• station
• spot
• reaches
• place
• footing
• echelon
• rung

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pecking order

Brown dwarfs occupy a peculiar place in the cosmic pecking order. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 22 July 2026

Phoenix put down a stake in the pecking order of the second division of MLP with a dominant 3-1 win over Florida. — Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

The scale of this World Cup, the limitless supply of clips of exuberant fans, and the degree of passion might not shake up the pecking order of American sports. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

The pecking order will sort it out, and the gentle birds will lose. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026