hierarchical

American  

[hahy-uh-rahr-ki-kuhl, hahy-rahr-] / ˌhaɪ əˈrɑr kɪ kəl, haɪˈrɑr- /

Also hierarchic

adjective

1. of, belonging to, or characteristic of a hierarchy.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antihierarchic
  adjective
• antihierarchically
  adverb
• hierarchically
  adverb
• antihierarchical
  adjective
• nonhierarchically
  adverb
• nonhierarchical
  adjective
• nonhierarchic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hierarchical

1425–75; late Middle English. See hierarch, -ical

Explanation

If something is hierarchical it has clear levels of power and importance, such as a hierarchical corporation that has the boss at the top, or the hierarchical social order of junior high school popularity. It's lonely at the top. That pretty much sums up hierarchical, pronounced "high-eh-RAR-ki-cal." In a hierarchical structure, people or groups are arranged according to ability or status. It helps to think of a triangle, with the leader at the highest point, layers of managers under him or her, and at the base, or widest part, the masses of workers who make up the largest part of the organization.

Example Sentences

It was hierarchical and stressful, but it was not because of my fellow writers, except that I wanted to impress them.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

These include word order preferences, such as whether verbs come before or after objects, and hierarchical structures, such as how grammatical relationships are marked within sentences.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

To Trump, who has rigidly hierarchical notions of gender, that probably seems emasculating.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

"The hierarchical structure of the military places power with rank, especially in a training facility," he said.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

Whether or not a text is organized to fit into a hierarchical outline, the tree metaphor goes only so far.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker