hierarchy

Syllabification: (hi·er·ar·chy)

Pronunciation: /ˈhī(ə)ˌrärkē/

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Definition of hierarchy

noun (plural hierarchies)

a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.
(the hierarchy) the upper echelons of a hierarchical system; those in authority:the magazine was read quite widely even by some of the hierarchy
an arrangement or classification of things according to relative importance or inclusiveness:a taxonomic hierarchy of phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and species
(the hierarchy) the clergy of the Catholic or Episcopal Church; the religious authorities.
Theology the traditional system of orders of angels and other heavenly beings.

Derivatives

hierarchic
hierarchization
hierarchize

Origin:

late Middle English: via Old French and medieval Latin from Greek hierarkhia, from hierarkhēs 'sacred ruler' (see hierarch). The earliest sense was 'system of orders of angels and heavenly beings'; the other senses date from the 17th century

The beginning of hierarchy should be spelled hier-; the ending is -archy.

hierarchy in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of hierarchy in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

hierarchy

noun (plural hierarchies)

Derivatives

hierarchic

hierarchization

hierarchize

Origin:

hierarchy in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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