hier ‧ ar ‧ chi ‧ cal AC /haɪˈrɑːkɪk ə l $ -ɑːr-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ hierarchy ; adverb : ↑ hierarchically ; adjective : ↑ hierarchical ]
if a system, organization etc is hierarchical, people or things are divided into levels of importance
hierarchical structure/organization/system etc
a hierarchical society
—hierarchically /-kli/ adverb