Definition of “pecking order” - English Dictionary

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“pecking order” in English

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pecking ordernoun [ C usually singular ]

uk ​ /ˈpek.ɪŋ ˌɔː.dər/ us ​ /ˈpek.ɪŋ ˌɔːr.dɚ/

(Definition of “pecking order” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“pecking order” in American English

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pecking ordernoun [ C usually sing ]

us ​ /ˈpek·ɪŋ ˌɔr·dər/ infml

› the order of importance of people in a group:

The teachers are so low in the social and economic pecking order that nobody listens to them.

(Definition of “pecking order” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“pecking order” in Business English

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pecking ordernoun [ C, usually singular ]

uk ​ us ​ informal HR

› the level of importance of people in a social group, at work, etc:

further/lower down the pecking order Employees are lower down the pecking order in private equity than shareholders.
at the bottom/top of the pecking order As one of many creditors, Mr Dixon is at the bottom of the pecking order.

(Definition of “pecking order” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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