Echelon
/ˈɛʃəˌlɒn/
nounC1
Definition
Echelon means a level or rank in a system, especially in organizations like the military, companies, or society. It shows where someone stands in a hierarchy (a system with different levels). People in higher echelons have more power or responsibility than those in lower ones.
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See It in Action
A level or rank in an organization or society
- •She works in the upper echelon of the company, making important decisions.
- •The general belongs to the highest echelon of the army.
- •People in the lower echelons often have less power and fewer benefits.
A formation or arrangement, especially in the military (less common in everyday speech)
- •The soldiers moved in an echelon formation during the parade.
- •The planes flew in echelon to keep formation.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "echelon" like "level" (A1 word), but it usually means a social or work level, not just a physical height or game level
- ✓Picture stairs or steps going up, where each step is a different echelon in a company or army
- ✓It's the feeling of being part of a group where some people are "above" others in rank or importance
- ✓Sounds like "E-sha-lon" → imagine a ship’s sail (like "sail") arranged in steps, each step a higher rank on the ship
- ✓Think of a boss at the top of a company as the highest echelon and a new worker as a lower echelon
- ✓NOT like "floor" (a physical place in a building), "echelon" is about social or organizational position
- ✓NOT like "rank" only in the military, "echelon" can be used in business, society, or other groups too
Try Other Words
- •Rank: position in a hierarchy (Use when talking about military or formal positions)
- •Tier: layer or level in a system (Use when emphasizing layers or groups stacked one above another)
- •Level: position or stage (Use in general or informal contexts)
- •Grade: a step or rank, often in education or jobs (Use in schooling or job promotions)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (none clearly separable; whole word borrowed)
- •Etymology: From French "échelon," meaning "rung of a ladder"
- •Historical development: Originally meant a step or rung on a ladder, later used metaphorically for ranks or levels in organizations
- •Modern usage: Used to describe levels of authority or social class, especially in formal or business contexts
- •Interesting fact: The word comes from a word meaning a ladder step, helping to imagine ranks as steps going upward
Reflect & Connect
•How do you think being in a higher or lower echelon affects a person's daily life and opportunities?
•Can you think of examples where people move between echelons? What causes that change?
Fill in the blanks
1.People in the upper echelon usually have more ___ and make important ___ in the company.
2.An echelon shows a person's ___ or place in a ___ or group.
3.Unlike a physical floor, an echelon is about ___ or social ___, not a location.
4.The soldiers moved in an echelon formation, which means they were arranged in a ___ or ___ shape.
5.Someone in a lower echelon might have less ___ and fewer ___ than those above.
6.You can find echelons in many places like the military, business, or ___ class.
7.When a person gets promoted, they move to a ___ echelon, gaining more ___ and responsibility.