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

But in normal circumstances, Remigio would likely land behind Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton and rookie Cyrus Allen in the pecking order. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026

Anthony Patterson, who coincidentally came off the bench for Sunderland on Sunday, is among those on the radar after falling behind Roefs in the Stadium of Light pecking order. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

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