hierarchical

adjective

hi·​er·​ar·​chi·​cal ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-ki-kəl 

 also  hir-ˈär-

variants or hierarchic

ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-kik 

 also  hir-ˈär-

: of, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy

a hierarchical society

a hierarchical order in the church

hierarchically

ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-ki-k(ə-)lē 

 also  hir-ˈär-

adverb

Examples of hierarchical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Among its top features are a clear hierarchical structure, extremely flexible pages, and an easy-to-use web clipper. —PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025

Otherwise, those not legally or biologically fastened to us fall victim to hierarchical thinking. —Priya Vulchi, Time, 9 Apr. 2025

This shift in responsibility allows executives to allocate cognitive resources toward strategy rather than supervision, dismantling the hierarchical bottlenecks that often slow progress. —Steven Kawasumi, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

As with most categories grafted onto a people without their consent, this hierarchical division of the world produced its own reaction. —Zachariah Mampilly, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see hierarchy

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hierarchical

• anti-hierarchical

Rhymes for hierarchical

• oligarchical
• anarchical

Kids Definition

hierarchical

adjective

hi·​er·​ar·​chi·​cal ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-ki-kəl 

variants or hierarchic

-kik 

: of, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy

hierarchically

-ˈrär-ki-k(ə-)lē 

adverb