hierarchical

Everyday

1. Arranged in levels or ranks, from the top to the bottom, with each level more important or powerful than the one below. tree →
2. (science) Arranged in groups inside bigger groups, like a family tree. tree →

In the lessons

In history and citizenship, feudal society was hierarchical (king, lords, knights, peasants). In science, living things are sorted in a hierarchical way (kingdom, class, order, family, genus, species). In computing, folders inside folders are hierarchical. Schools and armies are hierarchical too.

Examples

• The army is a hierarchical organisation, with generals at the top. tree →
• Medieval society was hierarchical: the king, then the lords, then the peasants. tree →
• Living things are classified in a hierarchical system. tree →
• Folders on a computer are arranged in a hierarchical way. tree →
• In the hierarchical world of Wonderland, the King and Queen of Hearts rule the cards. tree →
• A family tree is a hierarchical diagram. tree →

Note

Adjective from «hierarchy» (HY-er-ar-kee). Pronounced hy-er-AR-ki-kul. Spelling trap: «hier» (not «heir» or «higher»). In maths and science, a tree diagram is a good picture of something hierarchical.