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
Examples of hierarchical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Oftentimes in a hierarchical structure, by the time an idea is greenlit, a competitor may already be viral on TikTok.
—
Jaclyn Pagnotta, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
This question often arises in military and other strict hierarchical settings, where obedience can clash with personal values.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2025
This phenomenon has serious consequences for hierarchical organizations.
—Tim Koller, Time, 20 May 2025
And in high-stakes or hierarchical environments, that space must be built with intention.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hierarchical
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Jaclyn Pagnotta, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
This question often arises in military and other strict hierarchical settings, where obedience can clash with personal values.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2025
This phenomenon has serious consequences for hierarchical organizations.
—Tim Koller, Time, 20 May 2025
And in high-stakes or hierarchical environments, that space must be built with intention.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hierarchical
Cite this Entry
“Hierarchical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hierarchical. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hierarchical
adjective
hi·er·ar·chi·cal
ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-ki-kəl
variants
or hierarchic
: of, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy
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