a level or rank in an organization, a profession, or society

the upper echelons of the business world

a formation of troops, ships, aircraft, or vehicles in parallel rows with the end of each row projecting further than the one in front

the regiment lined up shoulder to shoulder in three tight echelons

there are two planes, lying in echelon with one another

arrange in an echelon formation

the Task Force would take the left, echeloned to be able to sweep in from the west

the echeloning of fire teams