hierarchical

adjective

hi·​er·​ar·​chi·​cal ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-ki-kəl How to pronounce hierarchical (audio)
also hir-ˈär-
variants or hierarchic
ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-kik How to pronounce hierarchical (audio)
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 How to pronounce hierarchical (audio)
also hir-ˈär-
adverb

Examples of hierarchical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The authors of the study speculated on whether this society was egalitarian or non-hierarchical. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026 All of us owned our agency, tore down hierarchical barriers and brought nonusual collaborators together in fluid teams to tackle tough problems. — Henry De Sio, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 To climb out of poverty, Ordway had enlisted in the Army, at the time a violent and hierarchical institution. — Caleb Crain, New Yorker, 25 May 2026 That suggests a more consistent and hierarchical internal system for directing support. — Mayank Kejriwal, The Conversation, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hierarchical

Word History

Etymology

see hierarchy

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hierarchical was in 1561

Phrases Containing hierarchical

Rhymes for hierarchical

See All Rhymes for hierarchical

Browse Nearby Words

hierarchal
hierarchical
hierarchism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hierarchical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hierarchical. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hierarchical

adjective
hi·​er·​ar·​chi·​cal ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-ki-kəl How to pronounce hierarchical (audio)
variants or hierarchic
-kik How to pronounce hierarchical (audio)
: of, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy
hierarchically
-ˈrär-ki-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce hierarchical (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on hierarchical

Nglish: Translation of hierarchical for Spanish Speakers

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