ech·e·lon
ˈe-shə-ˌlän 
1
a(1)
: an arrangement of a body of troops with its units each somewhat to the left or right of the one in the rear like a series of steps
(2)
: a formation of units or individuals resembling such an echelon
geese flying in echelon
(3)
: a flight formation in which each airplane flies at a certain elevation above or below and at a certain distance behind and to the right or left of the airplane ahead
b
: any of several military units in echelon formation
also
: any unit or group acting in a disciplined or organized manner
served in a combat echelon
2
a
: one of a series of levels or grades in an organization or field of activity
involved employees at every echelon
b
: a group of individuals at a particular level or grade in an organization or field of activity
the upper echelons of management
echeloned; echeloning; echelons
: to form or arrange in an echelon
: to take position in an echelon
Did you know?
Echelon comes from scala, a Latin word meaning "ladder" that is also the source of French eschelon, meaning "rung of a ladder." Over time, the French word came to mean "step," "grade," or "level." English borrowed the word and upped its meaning to "a level or category within an organization or group of people."
Synonyms
Examples of echelon in a Sentence
Noun
the lower echelons of the bureaucracy
We heard stories of corruption in the upper echelons of the firm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Is this a once-in-a-decade chance for Notre Dame to be in natty, or is this the start of a return back to the upper echelons of college football for the Irish (assuming Marcus Freeman stays)?
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
The level of hubris that overtook Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and her first-line officials could partially explain the pervasiveness of explicit corruption all the way to the upper echelons of government.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Then there’s his performance against the NFL’s upper echelon.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
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Noun
Western analysts have noted that schisms within the Kremlin's upper echelons are increasingly catching international attention as the grinding war effort in Ukraine drags on.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Is this a once-in-a-decade chance for Notre Dame to be in natty, or is this the start of a return back to the upper echelons of college football for the Irish (assuming Marcus Freeman stays)?
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
The level of hubris that overtook Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and her first-line officials could partially explain the pervasiveness of explicit corruption all the way to the upper echelons of government.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Then there’s his performance against the NFL’s upper echelon.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for echelon
Dictionary Entries Near echelon
Cite this Entry
“Echelon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/echelon. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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