PECKING ORDER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pecking order mean? 

• PECKING ORDER (noun)
  The noun PECKING ORDER has 1 sense:

1. the organization of people at different ranks in an administrative body

  Familiarity information: PECKING ORDER used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PECKING ORDER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The organization of people at different ranks in an administrative body

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

hierarchy; pecking order; power structure

Hypernyms ("pecking order" is a kind of...):

organisation; organization (a group of people who work together)

Meronyms (members of "pecking order"):

hierarch (a person who holds a high position in a hierarchy)

Holonyms ("pecking order" is a part of...):

administration; brass; establishment; governance; governing body; organisation; organization (the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something)

 Context examples 

On reaching the top of the social pecking order, however, meerkats remain ensconced within the group.

(Breeder meerkats age faster, but their subordinates still die younger, University of Cambridge)

In terms of pecking order, December 25/26 comes first, December 27 comes second, and December 15 comes third, but all are glittering days for your finances.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)