food chain

5 synonyms for food chain, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A sequence of living things in which each one is eaten by the next, showing how energy passes from plants up through animals in an ecosystem.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

hierarchy

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

food web trophic chain pecking order chain of command

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A sequence of living things in which each one is eaten by the next, showing how energy passes from plants up through animals in an ecosystem.

“Plankton sit at the bottom of the ocean food chain.”

food web trophic chain

2. noun informal

A hierarchy of people or organisations ranked by power and importance.

“She started at the bottom of the food chain and ran the department within a decade.”

pecking order hierarchy chain of command

How to use food chain

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

top of the food chain bottom of the food chain marine food chain further up the food chain

The biological sense is neutral and technical. The figurative sense is informal and common in workplace talk.

Etymology

Formed from food and chain.

Full origin of food chain →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

A food chain traces one straight path of energy, such as grass to rabbit to fox. A food web joins many such chains together, showing that most animals eat several things and are eaten by several others.

What is at the top of the food chain?

The top position is held by apex predators, animals that no other species regularly hunts, such as orcas, lions and large sharks. They are usually few in number because so much energy is lost at each step below them.

What does it mean to be at the bottom of the food chain at work?

It means holding the most junior position, with little authority and the least desirable tasks. The phrase borrows the biological image to describe office hierarchy and is usually said with some resignation or humour.

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