hi·er·ar·chy/`haɪəˏrɑrkɪ; ˈhaɪrɑːki/ n 1 [C,U] a system of organization in which people are arranged into ranks of importance and authority 等级制度 2 [C] the most important and powerful members of an organization 统治[掌权]集团: All policy decisions are made by the party hierarchy. 所有决策都是该党高层作出的。