echelon
/ˈɛʃ.əˌlɒn/
NOUN
1. A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society
A position or level within an organized hierarchy, especially one indicating authority, status, importance, or responsibility.
1.1. Hierarchical position and rank
A person's or group's position within an organizational, professional, military, or social hierarchy.
Synonyms
Examples
- The company promoted her to a higher echelon of management.
- Military officers occupy different echelons within the chain of command.
Related Words
- hierarchy
- pecking order
- food chain
- seniority
- subordination
1.2. Upper levels of authority and leadership
The highest or most influential positions within an organization, government, profession, or society.
Synonyms
- upper ranks
- top tier
- highest level
- senior ranks
- upper stratum
Examples
- The upper echelon of the company makes decisions about long-term strategy.
- Political influence is often concentrated in the highest echelons of government.
Related Words
- elite
- leadership
- executives
- establishment
- administration
1.3. Degree or level of quality
A particular level or standard of achievement, ability, quality, or distinction.
Synonyms
Examples
- The athletes competing at this echelon demonstrate exceptional skill.
- Her research places her among the highest echelons of academic achievement.
Related Words
- quality
- standard
- distinction
- excellence
- classification
NOUN
2. A diagonal formation of riders, troops, or ships
An arrangement of people, vehicles, or military units in parallel rows positioned diagonally relative to one another.
2.1. Military diagonal formation
An arrangement of troops, ships, or military units in successive parallel rows that are offset diagonally.
Synonyms
- diagonal formation
- staggered formation
- oblique formation
Examples
- The commander ordered the troops to advance in an echelon formation.
- The naval vessels maintained an echelon arrangement during the exercise.
Related Words
- battle formation
- deployment
- military array
- line formation
2.2. Cycling formation in a crosswind
A diagonal arrangement of cyclists riding behind one another to reduce wind resistance when traveling in a crosswind.
Synonyms
- paceline
- rotating paceline
- diagonal riding formation
Examples
- The cyclists formed an echelon to shelter one another from the strong crosswind.
- Riding in an echelon helped the team maintain speed during the exposed section of the race.
Related Words
- drafting
- slipstream
- crosswind
- peloton
VERB
3. To arrange troops in a diagonal formation
To organize or position military units in successive parallel rows arranged diagonally.
3.1. Military arrangement of troops
The act of positioning troops or military units in an echelon formation for tactical deployment.
Synonyms
Examples
- The general ordered his officers to echelon the troops along the defensive line.
- The battalion was echeloned to provide overlapping support.
Related Words
ADJECTIVE
4. Having a stepped arrangement in a matrix
Describing a matrix whose nonzero rows have leading nonzero entries positioned progressively farther to the right, producing a stepped pattern.
4.1. Row echelon form in linear algebra
Describing a matrix arranged so that each nonzero row's leading entry is to the right of the leading entry in the row above it, with any zero rows placed at the bottom.
Synonyms
- row-echelon
- staircase-form
- stepped-form
Examples
- The matrix was transformed into echelon form using Gaussian elimination.
- An echelon matrix makes it easier to solve a system of linear equations.
Related Words
- reduced row echelon form
- Gaussian elimination
- pivot
- leading coefficient
- linear algebra