echelon
/ˈɛʃəˌlɑn/
noun
- A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society.
- She quickly rose to the upper echelons of the company.
- The lower echelons of the military often have the toughest jobs.
- Many people dream of reaching the highest echelons of political power.
- A formation of troops, aircraft, or ships in which each unit is positioned slightly to the left or right of the one in front, creating a stepped arrangement.
- The fighter jets flew in an echelon formation across the sky.
- The ships moved in echelon to maximize their field of fire.
- The general ordered the troops to advance in echelon.