echelon

IPA/ˈeʃəlɒn/
KK[ˈɛʃəlˌɑn]IPA/ˈeʃəlɑːn/

echelon — noun

  • echelonsingular
  • echelonsplural

1. one of the layers or grades of authority within a large organization or society,

1.nounB2
Definition

one of the layers or grades of authority within a large organization or society, where people are grouped according to how much power or influence they have

Example

Obi worked hard for years to climb into the upper echelons of the engineering firm.

collocation: upper echelons of [organization]

Decisions from the highest echelons of government rarely reach the public unchanged.

collocation: highest echelons of [institution]

Common collocations
  • upper echelons
  • higher echelons
  • lower echelons
  • echelons of power
  • echelons of society
Synonyms
  • tier

    more general; suggests a horizontal layer in a system (e.g. seating tiers) without the strong authority meaning of echelon

  • rank

    more specific to formal hierarchies with named titles, especially in military contexts

  • level

    broader and less formal; can refer to any point on a scale, not just power structures

Usage Note

Often appears in plural form 'echelons' when naming different levels within a hierarchy. The adjectives 'upper', 'higher', 'top', 'lower', and 'inner' are commonly used before it.

Common Mistakes

She was promoted to a higher eachelon of management.
She was promoted to a higher echelon of management.
Spelling: e-c-h-e-l-o-n, not e-a-c-h-e-l-o-n.
He belongs to the upper echelon of the football club.
He belongs to the upper echelons of the football club.
Use the plural form 'echelons' when referring to a general level within a group.

2. a stepped diagonal line of troops, aircraft, and vessels in which each element i

2.nounC1
Definition

a stepped diagonal line of troops, aircraft, and vessels in which each element is offset to one side and placed a little behind the element that precedes it

Example

The fighter jets flew in a left echelon formation over the coastline.

collocation: left/right echelon formation

From the hillside, Gabriela watched the soldiers spread into a wide echelon across the field.

Common collocations
  • left echelon
  • right echelon
  • in echelon
  • echelon formation
Synonyms
  • formation

    a general term for any arranged pattern; echelon is one specific type of formation

  • line

    a straight arrangement, unlike the diagonal step-like shape of an echelon

Antonyms
  • column

    a straight, single-file arrangement where units follow directly behind one another

Usage Note

Often used without an article in the phrase 'in echelon' to describe the style of formation. Direction can be specified as 'left echelon' or 'right echelon' depending on which side trails.

Common Mistakes

The soldiers marched in a straight echelon towards the enemy.
The soldiers marched in echelon, each unit behind and to the side of the one ahead.
An echelon is a diagonal, stepped formation, not a straight line.
The planes flew in echelon one behind the other.
The planes flew in echelon, each offset to the side of the one ahead.
In an echelon, units are not directly behind one another; they are staggered diagonally.

echelon — verb

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Tier suggests a horizontal layer in a system, such as pricing or seating, without the strong sense of authority that echelon carries. Rank is more specific to military or formal organizational hierarchies, where each position has a clear title and set of responsibilities. Level is the most general term and can refer to any point on a scale, from difficulty to salary. Echelon emphasises a structured, graded system of authority, often in large institutions. For example, you would say someone is 'in the upper echelons of the company' (power structure), but 'at the executive level' (position on a scale) or 'holding a senior rank' (formal title).

tier ↗rank ↗level ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • in echelon

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Echelon comes from French échelon, meaning 'rung of a ladder'. This word developed from échelle ('ladder'), which traces back to Latin scala, also meaning 'ladder' or 'stairs'. The original military meaning of a stepped formation came from the visual resemblance to ladder rungs. Later, the word broadened to describe any graded level in an organization, much like the rungs on a ladder.

First known use

1796

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1) Verb