pecking order

noun

variants or less commonly peck order
Synonyms of pecking ordernext
1
: the basic pattern of social organization within a flock of poultry in which each bird pecks another lower in the scale without fear of retaliation and submits to pecking by one of higher rank
broadly : a dominance hierarchy in a group of social animals
2
: a social hierarchy

Examples of pecking order in a Sentence

As an assistant manager, he was pretty low in the company's pecking order. the pecking order of Washington politics
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For many, the refusal to acknowledge any kind of pecking order will feel fresh, fun, validating and/or thought-provoking. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 The higher standards down the pecking order can help keep the brightest talent in the game for longer, with the next generation benefitting from that wisdom. — Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The Trojans, the lone ranked squad in the US LBM Coaches Poll to take the field in Week 0, look to improve on a 9-4 campaign and move up the pecking order in a top-heavy Big Ten. — Eddie Timanus, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 The 31-year-old is effectively a replacement for Wojciech Szczesny, who is currently number two in the goalkeeping pecking order behind Spain international Joan Garcia. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pecking order

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pecking order was in 1927

Rhymes for pecking order

See All Rhymes for pecking order

Browse Nearby Words

peckiness
pecking order
peckish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pecking order.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pecking%20order. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pecking order

noun
variants also peck order
1
: a basic pattern of social organization within a flock of poultry in which each bird pecks another lower in the scale without being pecked in return and allows pecking by one of higher rank
2
: a social order with ranks or classes

Medical Definition

pecking order

noun
peck·​ing order ˈpek-iŋ-ˌ How to pronounce pecking order (audio)
variants also peck order
ˈpek-ˌ How to pronounce pecking order (audio)
: the basic pattern of social organization within a flock of poultry in which each bird pecks another lower in the scale without fear of retaliation and submits to pecking by one of higher rank compare cannibalism sense 3, dominance sense a

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