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

Habits of thinking are hard to change quickly, and certainly some hierarchical elements were kept in the process of producing Documenta 14, such as the distinction between curators and curatorial assistants, who in many cases worked with artists more directly on the works commissioned. —Adam Szymczyk, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026

This approach differs fundamentally from the hierarchical models that dominate many health care systems today. —Lawrence Rosenberg, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026

Modern medicine still often assumes an older, more hierarchical model in a world where a physician’s authority is uncontested and a patient’s role is to comply. —Scott Hamilton, STAT, 4 Mar. 2026

Nationalism is not stagnant and not hierarchical. —Robert A. Pape In The Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 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