What does "hierarchy" mean?

1. (social or professional ranking) a system in an organization where people are ranked one above the other according to their power or status. 2. (classification of things) a way of organizing ideas or objects into levels, from the most important to the least important.

How do you use "hierarchy"?

Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to a specific organization's structure. Commonly appears in the phrase 'hierarchy of' followed by a plural noun.

hierarchy

US //ˈhaɪˌɹɑɹki// UK //hˈaɪəɹɑːki// hi·er·ar·chy

1 social or professional ranking (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic

a system in an organization where people are ranked one above the other according to their power or status.

a social or organizational structure in which individuals or groups are ranked according to authority, status, or seniority.

Example

In the company hierarchy, the managers report directly to the vice president.

Example

The rigid corporate hierarchy made it difficult for junior employees to propose innovative ideas to the executive board.

Usage

Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to a specific organization's structure.
- pecking order
- ranking
- ladder
2 classification of things (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic

a way of organizing ideas or objects into levels, from the most important to the least important.

a series of ordered groupings within a system, such as biological classifications or data structures.

Example

The software organizes your files in a hierarchy of folders and subfolders.

Example

Maslow's hierarchy of needs suggests that basic physical requirements must be met before a person can pursue higher psychological goals.

Usage

Commonly appears in the phrase 'hierarchy of' followed by a plural noun.

Origin

From Middle English ierarchie, jerarchie, from Old French ierarchie, jerarchie, from Late Latin ierarchia, from Latin hierarchia, from Ancient Greek ἱεραρχία (hierarkhía, “rule of a high priest”), from ἱεράρχης (hierárkhēs, “high priest”), from ἱερός (hierós, “holy”) + ἄρχω (árkhō, “I rule”), equivalent to hiero- + -archy. The H was re-added c. 1500 due to influence from Classical Latin.