higher-up

American  

[hahy-er-uhp] / ˈhaɪ ərˈʌp /

noun

Informal.

1. a person in a position of higher authority in an organization; superior.

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higher-up British  

noun

1. informal a person of higher rank or in a superior position

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Etymology

Origin of higher-up

1910–15, noun use of adj. phrase higher up

Example Sentences

“This alleged incident didn’t come up,” an unnamed higher-up in the transition team told Vanity Fair.

From Salon • Nov. 15, 2024

"Another participant exhibited more symmetric use but also compensated with their less-affected side slightly more often for higher-up points that were close to the mid-line."

From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2023

If a higher-up criticized a story she handled, she took full blame.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 16, 2023

That decision was made with Capt. Jeffrey Bratcher, the incident commander who was a higher-up at Newton Division, where the blast occurred, the report stated.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 14, 2023

He was recruited to do this job, not by Kyril Montana, but rather by some other higher-up undercover police functionaries who had decided Montana’s approach to the whole affair was much too conservative.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols