low-level

American  

[loh-lev-uhl] / ˈloʊˈlɛv əl /

adjective

1. undertaken by or composed of members having a low status.

   a low-level discussion.

2. having low status.

   low-level personnel.

3. undertaken at or from a low altitude.

   low-level bombing.

4. Linguistics. occurring or operating at the phonetic level of linguistic representation or analysis.

   low-level rules governing assimilation.

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Etymology

Origin of low-level

First recorded in 1880–85

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Explanation

Someone who's described as being low-level has very little authority in their job or position. A low-level employee at the F.B.I. might be the person who answers the phone, or who cleans people's offices at the end of the day. A low-level police officer's job might involve giving speeding tickets, rather than investigating murders, and a low-level librarian might be stuck shelving books, instead of ordering new ones or archiving historical manuscripts. Another meaning of low-level is physically low, or at a low altitude: "I feel like I could almost touch that low-level cloud."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

low-level

Since then, Iraqi forces have fought Islamic State remnants engaged in a low-level insurgency around the country’s remote areas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026

The pesticide was tagged with a low-level radioactive marker so researchers could track where it moved.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026

He described the suspect as a "low-level agent", and declined to disclose his nationality.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The suspect, a "low-level agent," was also under investigation in Romania, Dobrindt added.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

There have been two low-level drills since I arrived in 13.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

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