Meaning

A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society..

Definitions by Sense

1. A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society.
2. (cycling) A line of riders seeking maximum drafting in a crosswind, resulting in a diagonal line across the road.
3. (military) A formation of troops, ships, aircraft, etc., in diagonal parallel rows.
4. (transitive, military) To form troops into an echelon.
5. (linear algebra) Of a matrix: having undergone Gaussian elimination with the result that the leading coefficient or pivot (that is, the first nonzero number from the left) of a nonzero row is to the right of the pivot of the row above it, giving rise to a stepped appearance in the matrix.

Example Sentences

Other important functions performed by the GP [general practitioner] are those of referring patients to other (health) care facilities and acting as contact person for other providers of aid, both for other facilities in first echelon care and with respect to second echelon care (outpatient care and treatment in hospital).

Officials in China are divided into three echelons, or generations. The first echelon joined the Communist Party in the 1920s, soon after the party was founded. […] The second echelon joined the Communist Party before the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The party was then still struggling, and many of the second echelon died during the wars. They were again true patriots. The third echelon joined the Communist Party after the founding of the People's Republic.

Still in the hood and I still sip tea When I go in, I'ma go for the win On point like syringe and it's like that Living life full of sin, gotta cup full of Hen' Put my tears in a pen and I write back Ice pack cause' my heart lost I'm so cold that I Jack Frost I'm 'bout be on the upper echelon Niggas gonna hate on the man that I become

In an echelon, in which several cyclists are sitting in on one another, each rider takes his turn of about 200 meters at the front before dropping to the rear.

Cyclists in an echelon take up more room in the traffic lane than they do when riding single or double file.

The troops selected by his Royal Highness for this daring exploit, consisted of the war battalions of the 3d, 6th, and 7th regiments of the Royal Guard, forming the first echelon, […]

The order in echelons is favorable for attack, because it readily conforms to the nature of the ground, and does not necessitate engaging more than a part of the forces; it is adopted for the purpose of attacking a particular point of the enemy's line.

As soon as the infantry had replenished their ammunition, they wheeled to the left in échelon of brigades, and began to march towards Surgham ridge. The movements of a great force are slow. It was not desirable that the British division, which led the échelon, should remain in the low ground north of Surgham—where it was commanded, had no field of fire, and could see nothing—and accordingly both these brigades moved forward almost together to occupy the crest of the ridge.

Word Forms

• echelons
• échelon
• echeloning
• echeloned

Synonyms for echelon

Related Words

When Should You Use Echelon?

Use echelon when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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