hierarchy
hier•archy n /ˈhaɪərɑːki /
(pl. hier•archies)
1 [C, U] a system, especially in a society or an organization, in which people are organized into different levels of importance from highest to lowest
the social/political hierarchy
She's quite high up in the management hierarchy.
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] the group of people in control of a large organization or institution
3 [C] (formal) a system that ideas or beliefs can be arranged into
a hierarchy of needs
