pecking order
noun
variants
or less commonly peck order
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
The real question for the Broncos is who separates between Mims, Franklin, Vele and Bryant in the pecking order.
—
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 13 July 2025
Igor, 27, and 30-year-old Webster were limited by a combination of injuries and the pecking order to 10 and 11 league starts respectively last season out of a possible 38.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Igor Jesus adapted quickly, clambering past Soares in the pecking order and registering six goals and an assist in his first seven starts.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 27 June 2025
The 18-year-old Flagg probably will be fourth in the pecking order from an offensive standpoint during his rookie season.
—Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pecking order
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Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 13 July 2025
Igor, 27, and 30-year-old Webster were limited by a combination of injuries and the pecking order to 10 and 11 league starts respectively last season out of a possible 38.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Igor Jesus adapted quickly, clambering past Soares in the pecking order and registering six goals and an assist in his first seven starts.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 27 June 2025
The 18-year-old Flagg probably will be fourth in the pecking order from an offensive standpoint during his rookie season.
—Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pecking order
Cite this Entry
“Pecking order.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pecking%20order. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
pecking order
noun
peck·ing order
ˈpek-iŋ-ˌ 
variants
also peck order
: 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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