food chain

noun

1
: an arrangement of the organisms of an ecological community according to the order of predation in which each uses the next usually lower member as a food source
2
: a hierarchy based on power or importance
at the top of the corporate food chain

Examples of food chain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Advertisement Business Boar’s Head expands recall to include 7 million more pounds of deli meats tied to listeria outbreak July 31, 2024 In response, the fast food chain has proactively removed the onions and patties used for the burgers from stores in the affected states, according to the CDC. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024 The fast food chain has become a strange point of competition for the Trump campaign. Chad De Guzman, TIME, 21 Oct. 2024 Earlier this year, the company took the spot as the No. 1 regional food chain in the nation, according to USA TODAY's 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Haadiza Ogwude, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024 The fast food chain has underperformed this year, rising just over 5%. Alex Harring, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2024 However, the increase is significantly lower than industry predictions, suggesting that many fast food chains absorbed the costs rather than passing them onto consumers, the study noted. Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 10 Oct. 2024 Bring your appetite to Arby's, because the fast food chain is selling double the beef for an unbelievably low price. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2024 The fast food chain just announced a witchy new addition to its menu ahead of Halloween: the Witch's Brew Slush Float. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2024 The bakery company plans to bring its doughnuts to McDonald’s in Chicago on Oct. 15, as part of a larger strategy to roll out its sweet treats to the fast food chain’s locations nationwide by the end of 2026. Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 11 Oct. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'food chain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of food chain was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near food chain

Cite this Entry

“Food chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20chain. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

food chain

noun
: a series of organisms in which each uses the next usually lower member of the series as a food source
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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