chain of command
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of chain of command
First recorded in 1910–15
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The procedure seems obvious now, but it established a chain of command that had previously varied from venue to venue.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
Firefighters said they adhered to the LAFD’s strict chain of command and did not question higher-ups, while those in charge had fuzzy memories or shifted responsibility to others.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026
"The chain of command within Iran's armed forces is unclear," said Farhad Mammadov, head of the Baku-based South Caucasus Studies Center.
From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026
Iran’s leaders have been preparing for an attack on the regime that could lead to a breakdown of the chain of command.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026
It was time to move this thing up the chain of command.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
