echelons

/ˈɛʃ.əˌlɒnz/

NOUN

1. Levels or ranks within an organization or society

Distinct levels of authority, status, responsibility, or position within an organizational, professional, military, or social hierarchy.

Levels of authority or responsibility within an organization, institution, or chain of command.

The lower echelons of the organization handle day-to-day operations.
The company's success depends on collaboration across all echelons of its management structure.

Levels of social standing, prestige, or influence that distinguish groups within a society.

Innovation can originate from various echelons of society, not just the elite.
People from different social echelons attended the public gathering.

Relative positions or degrees within an ordered arrangement, ranking system, or structured scale.

Candidates from different echelons of the profession participated in the competition.
The report compared performance across several echelons of the industry.

NOUN

Arrangements of riders, military units, or vessels in successive diagonal positions, often used for tactical purposes or to reduce wind resistance.

A diagonal line of cyclists riding behind one another to benefit from drafting and reduce the effect of a crosswind.

Arrangements of troops, ships, or other military units positioned in successive parallel rows that are offset diagonally.

The commander deployed the troops in multiple echelons to gain a tactical advantage.
The naval vessels maintained their echelons during the military exercise.