echelons
Strata of command
Echelons are levels or ranks within a hierarchy, especially in military or organizational contexts.
The word often appears with modifiers indicating position: the upper echelons of management, the lower echelons of the army.
In military usage, an echelon is also a formation where units are arranged in a staggered diagonal pattern, like steps.
Horizontal arranged levels
- levelsHeights or ranked stages
- ranksPositions in hierarchy
- rankingsOrdered list by performance
- gradationIncremental transition between stages
ladder · pyramid · pecking order · chain of command · strata · rungs · ordering · structure
Creation or arrangement
- battalionMid-sized military unit
- regimentColonel-led military unit
- brigadeLarge military unit
- divisionSplitting into parts
corps · unit · column · flank · deployment · maneuver · tactics · command structure
Wealthiest societal stratum
- eliteSuperior select group
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- gentryHighborn but not noble
high society · privileged · affluent · bourgeoisie · plutocrats · oligarchs · ruling class · establishment
Organizing and directing resources
- corporateOf or relating to companies
- departmentsSubdivisions of an organization
- divisionsSeparate portions of something
- branchesLimbs of trees
administration · bureaucracy · governance · directorates · leadership · executives · supervisors · middle management
tiers
Horizontal arranged levels
gradation · ladder · pyramid · pecking order · chain of command · strata · rungs · ordering · structure · sequence
formation
Creation or arrangement
division · corps · unit · column · flank · deployment · maneuver · tactics · command structure · army
upper class
Wealthiest societal stratum
- eliteSuperior select group
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
gentry · high society · privileged · affluent · bourgeoisie · plutocrats · oligarchs · ruling class · establishment · socialites
management
Organizing and directing resources
- corporateOf or relating to companies
- departmentsSubdivisions of an organization
- divisionsSeparate portions of something
branches · administration · bureaucracy · governance · directorates · leadership · executives · supervisors · middle management · senior
echelonsequality
Same status for all
egalitarianism · level playing field · uniformity · flatness · classlessness
echelonssimplicity
Lack of complexity
single layer · homogeneity · monolith · unity · whole
echelonsgrassroots
Common people as political base
rank and file · the masses · commoners · base · bottom rung
- upper echelonHighest level of hierarchy
- rear echelonNon-combat support zone