echelonech‧e‧lon /ˈeʃəlɒn $ -lɑːn/ noun [countable] 
the upper echelons of government Their clients are drawn from the highest echelons of society.2technical a line of ships, soldiers, planes etc arranged in a pattern that looks like a series of steps
WORD ORIGINechelon
Origin:
1700-1800 FrenchEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Even the highest echelons of management could not explain the decision.
- Brilliant riddles floated up and down the echelons, to be pondered, solved, ignored.
- Not the upper upper echelons, but Digby level echelons.
- Police as suspects For some suspects in the second echelon, the search is over.
- The incoming immune adults then graze the lower more fibrous echelons of the herbage which contain the majority of the L3.
- The nobility of Savoy was also closely linked to the upper echelons of the clergy.
- The top echelons of the civil service have generally abjured responsibility for policy decisions.
- This length could be reduced slightly if they were stabled en echelon.
- When you are in the lower echelons of any service, you are left guessing a lot of the time.
WORD SETS
action stations, nounaide-de-camp, nounairborne, adjectiveaircraft carrier, nounairlift, nounallied, adjectivearmour, nounarms control, nounarms race, nounarray, verbassault course, nounAWOL, adjectivebalance of power, nounbandmaster, nounbandsman, nounbase, nounbattle, nounbattle, verbbattle cry, nounbattlefield, nounbattlements, nounbeachhead, nounbivouac, nounblackout, nounblast, verbblitz, nounblockade, nounblockade, verbblockhouse, nounbloodshed, nounbody bag, nounbody count, nounbomb, verbbombard, verbbombardment, nounbomb disposal, nounboot camp, nounbowman, nounbreastplate, nounbridgehead, nounbunker, nouncall-up, nouncannonade, nouncapability, nouncaptain, nouncapture, nouncarrier, nouncashier, verbcenotaph, nounchief of staff, nouncitation, nouncivil defence, nounC.O., nouncommand, nouncommand, verbcommandant, nouncommander, nouncommander in chief, nouncommand post, nouncommissariat, nouncommissary, nouncommission, nouncommissioned officer, nounconquer, verbconquest, nounconscientious objector, nounconscript, verbconscript, nounconscription, nounconvoy, verbcookhouse, nounCorp., corporal, nouncorps, nouncounterinsurgency, nouncounterintelligence, nouncountermand, verbcounter-revolution, nouncourt-martial, nouncourt-martial, verbcross, noundawn raid, noundeath camp, noundemilitarize, verbdemobilize, verbdeploy, verbdetonate, verbdisarm, verbdisarmament, noundispatch, noundraft board, noundraft card, noundraft dodger, noundraftee, noundress uniform, noundrum major, noundump, nounechelon, nounencamp, verbenemy, nounengage, verbengagement, nounenlist, verbenlisted, adjectiveexchange, nounex-serviceman, nounex-servicewoman, nounfield, verbfirst lieutenant, nounfirst strike, nounflak jacket, nounflash, nounfort, nounfortress, nounfoxhole, nounFPO, front, noungas mask, noungeneral headquarters, nounGHQ, nounguardhouse, nounheadquarters, nounhigh command, nounHQ, nounincursion, nounindefensible, adjectiveinsignia, nouninstallation, nouninsubordination, nounintelligence, nouninternment, nouninvade, verbinvader, nouninvasion, nounkit bag, nounKP, nounlieutenant, nounline, nounMaj., major, nounmajor general, nounman, nounmarch, verbmarch, nounmarch-past, nounmarshal, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmess, nounmess, verbmilitarism, nounmilitarized, adjectiveMilitary Academy, nounMilitary Cross, nounmilitary service, nounmilitia, nounmilitiaman, nounminuteman, nounmission, nounMP, nounmutineer, nounmutinous, adjectivemutiny, nounnational service, nounNATO, nounNCO, nounno-man's-land, nounnon-aggression, nounnon-aligned, adjectivenon-combatant, nounobjective, nounobservation post, nounoccupation, nounoccupy, verboffence, nounoffensive, adjectiveoffensive, nounofficer, nounoperation, nounorderly, nounoutflank, verboutpost, nounoverthrow, verboverwhelm, verbpact, nounpadre, nounparade, nounparamilitary, adjectiveparapet, nounpartisan, nounpassword, nounpatrol, nounperilous, adjectiveperiscope, nounpillbox, nounpincer movement, nounpost, verbPOW, nounpre-war, adjectiveprisoner, nounprisoner of war, nounPurple Heart, nounpush, nounputsch, nounPX, nounquarter, verbquartermaster, nounquell, verbR & R, nounraid, nounraid, verbrank, nounrebellion, nounrecapture, verbreconnaissance, nounreconnoitre, verbrecruit, verbrecruit, nounreinforce, verbrelieve, verbRemembrance Day, nounrepel, verbrequisition, verbretake, verbretire, verbretreat, verbretreat, nounreview, nounreview, verbribbon, nounsabre-rattling, nounsally, nounsalute, verbsalute, nounsalvo, nounsamurai, nounscorched earth policy, nounscout, nounscout, verbscramble, verbsecond lieutenant, nounsentinel, nounsentry, nounsentry box, nounsergeant, nounsergeant major, nounserviceman, nounservicewoman, nounSgt., shell, verbshelling, nounsiege, nounskirmish, nounstaff officer, nounstaging area, nounstandard-issue, adjectivestar, nounstation, nounstation, verbstrategic, adjectivestrategist, nounstrategy, nounstripe, nounstronghold, nounsuperpower, nounsuppress, verbsurgical strike, nounsurrender, verbsurrender, nountactical, adjectivetarget, nountarget, verbtask force, nountattoo, nountheatre, nountrench warfare, nountripwire, nountruce, nounturret, noununarmed, adjectiveunoccupied, adjectivevalour, nounveteran, nounvolunteer, nounvolunteer, verbwar chest, nounwar crime, nounwar cry, nounwar dance, nounwar effort, nounwarfare, nounwarhorse, nounwarlike, adjectivewarlord, nounwar memorial, nounwarmonger, nounwarrant officer, nounwarring, adjectivewarrior, nounwar-torn, adjectivewar widow, nounwar zone, nounwounded, adjectivezero hour, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY the upper echelons of government Their clients are drawn from the highest echelons of society.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES the upper echelons (=the most important members) of corporate managementCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
1 (also echelons [plural]) a rank or level of authority in an organization, business etc, or the people at that levelupper/higher/lower echelons the upper echelons of government Their clients are drawn from the highest echelons of society. the upper echelons (=the most important members) of corporate management· The higher echelon is pushing younger people in there.· However, for those in the higher echelons of government it was a period of seemingly near apocalypse.· That disaffection increasingly is extending from the frontline level into higher echelons.· You had to turn your complaints against the individuals who manned its higher echelons.· Married men are the only ones in the population who in general tend to reach the high echelons of earners.
· The incoming immune adults then graze the lower more fibrous echelons of the herbage which contain the majority of the L3.· Women almost all somewhere in the lower echelons. what was the new army going to look like?· When you are in the lower echelons of any service, you are left guessing a lot of the time.
· Few of them are to be found in the top echelons of racing.· The top echelons of the civil service have generally abjured responsibility for policy decisions.· The problem has been particularly acute in the top echelons where the blue and grey suits are rarely disturbed by a skirt.· After twelve months of reorganising and repositioning, Tyzack began to emerge as a contender in the top echelons of executive search.· Cannes society, or rather its top echelons, was now flocking into the ballroom, and Rose's unease grew.· The company has done away with its once-powerful executive committee: its top echelon will now report directly to Turndal.
· At the age of 35, he left the upper echelon of the advertising world to enter the political world.· The nobility of Savoy was also closely linked to the upper echelons of the clergy.· Not until ten o'clock for the upper echelons.· The days of the upper echelon are over.· There were also wide-ranging personnel changes in the upper echelons of the armed forces and the police.· Not the upper upper echelons, but Digby level echelons.· This insoluble predicament was the source of the decay, corruption and mounting tension evident within the upper echelons of the regime.
the upper echelons of government Their clients are drawn from the highest echelons of society.2technical a line of ships, soldiers, planes etc arranged in a pattern that looks like a series of steps