first tier
Highest ranking category
First tier designates the highest or most important level in a ranked system.
Countries, universities, or sports teams in the first tier occupy the top category: first-tier law schools, first-tier suppliers.
The term implies a hierarchy where second and third tiers follow with diminishing prestige or priority.
Often hyphenated when used as an adjective before a noun.
- topUppermost part or surface
- eliteSuperior select group
- premiumAdded cost for better
- primeReadying for action
- flagshipCommander's principal vessel
leading · superior · apex · pinnacle · top shelf · prestige · ranking · hierarchy · upper echelon · league · big leagues · division · status · exclusive · dominant · championship · highest · upper
- tiers
- hierarchyrank, ranked, authority, command, reporting
- rankingsrankings, college rankings, second, third, ratings
- ranksrank and file, enlisted ranks, officer rank, enlisted rank, upper echelon
- theater seatingmezzanine, orchestra, balcony, gallery, stalls
first tiersecond tier
Level below the top
third tier · second-rate · third-rate · inferior · bush league
first tierlow-end
Bottom-tier in price
no-name · unknown · second-class · second-string · run-of-the-mill
first tiersecondary
Lesser in rank
tertiary · peripheral · non-essential · ancillary · back-burner