define echelon
echelon noun [C]. âº a âparticular âlevel or âgroup of âpeople within an âorganization such as an âarmy or âcompany: These âsalary âincreases will âaffect only the âhighest echelons of âlocal âgovernment. the âupper echelons of âsociety âº specialized military a âspecial âarrangement of âsoldiers, âaircraft, or âships.