Standard Lemma guide

hierarchal

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /haɪəˈɹɑː(ɹ)kəl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Relating to a hierarch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • The bishop discharged his hierarchal duties by arbitrating the dispute.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hierarchic, hierarchical

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Synonym of hierarchical (“pertaining to a hierarchy (ranking)”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hierarchical

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective

Meaning 3

classified according to various criteria into successive levels or layers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • it has been said that only a hierarchical society with a leisure class at the top can produce works of art
  • in her hierarchical set of values honesty comes first

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hierarchical, hierarchic

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English hierarch Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English hierarchal From hierarch + -al.

From hierarchy + -al.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: hiërarchisch — pertaining to a hierarch