hierarchical

[ hahy-uh-rahr-ki-kuhl, hahy-rahr- ]

adjective

1. of, belonging to, or characteristic of a hierarchy.

Other Words From

• hier·archi·cal·ly adverb
• anti·hier·archic adjective
• anti·hier·archi·cal adjective
• anti·hier·archi·cal·ly adverb
• nonhi·er·archic adjective
• nonhi·er·archi·cal adjective
• nonhi·er·archi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hierarchical¹

1425–75; late Middle English. See hierarch, -ical

Example Sentences

Future studies should examine ways to integrate the hierarchical structure of these diverse cell definitions in analyses and consider alternate models of in vivo brain functioning, said Holmes.

From Science Daily

To create these structures, the team modified the chlorophyll molecule by attaching a barbituric acid unit via hydrogen bonding and further added tree-like molecular structures called "dendrons" to form stable rosette-like rings and control their hierarchical stacking.

From Science Daily

Food and food habits are sensitive subjects in culturally-diverse India as they are deeply intertwined with religion and the country's hierarchical caste system.

From BBC

Today, she stands as one of this year's 22 recipients of the prestigious MacArthur "genius" fellowship, a testament to a career dedicated to researching the complex lives of Dalit women - those born into the caste considered “untouchable” in South Asia's hierarchical society.

From BBC

They also have what psychologists call a social dominance orientation — a preference for hierarchical rather than egalitarian relationships between groups.

From Salon

Related Words

• hierarchic