two-tier

American  

[too-teer] / ˈtuˈtɪər /

Or two-tiered

adjective

1. consisting of two tiers, floors, levels, or the like.

   a two-tier wedding cake.

2. consisting of two separate price structures, sets of regulations, etc..

   a two-tier fare system for subways and buses.

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two-tier British  

adjective

1. involving or comprising two levels of structure, policy, etc

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Etymology

Origin of two-tier

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

The result is a two-tier system: a global audience watching from home, and a smaller, more exclusive crowd inside the venue.

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2026

Access to obesity treatment in the UK may be heading toward a two-tier system, raising concerns that some of the most vulnerable patients could be left without help.

From Science Daily • Jan. 4, 2026

“We ended up with like this two-tier economy where either you were an asset holder or you weren’t,” he said.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

Without these systemic changes, AI risks creating a two-tier workforce where a small group captures most opportunities and everyone else falls further behind.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

The term “dinner-wagon,” originally a movable table to hold dishes, is now used of a two-tier sideboard.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various