What does echelon mean?
Definitions for echelon
ˈɛʃ əˌlɒnech·e·lon
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word echelon.
Princeton's WordNet
echelonnoun
a body of troops arranged in a line
echelonnoun
a diffraction grating consisting of a pile of plates of equal thickness arranged stepwise with a constant offset
Wiktionary
echelonnoun
A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society.
echelonnoun
A formation of troops, ships, etc. in diagonal parallel rows.
echelonverb
To form troops into an echelon.
Echelonnoun
an international SIGINT network to monitor and gather intelligence from satellite trunk communications
Etymology: échelon, from échelle 'ladder'.
Wikipedia
ECHELON
ECHELON, originally a secret government code name, is a surveillance program (signals intelligence/SIGINT collection and analysis network) operated by the five signatory states to the UKUSA Security Agreement: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, also known as the Five Eyes.Created in the late 1960s to monitor the military and diplomatic communications of the Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies during the Cold War, the ECHELON project became formally established in 1971.By the end of the 20th century, the system referred to as "ECHELON" had greatly expanded.
ChatGPT
echelon
Echelon typically refers to a level or rank in an organization, a profession, or society, especially those which have different levels of status or importance. The term is often used in military context to describe a formation of troops, ships, aircrafts, or vehicles in step, or diagonally. The term can also refer to a method used in linear algebra known as echelon form or row echelon form.
Webster Dictionary
Echelonnoun
an arrangement of a body of troops when its divisions are drawn up in parallel lines each to the right or the left of the one in advance of it, like the steps of a ladder in position for climbing. Also used adjectively; as, echelon distance
Echelonnoun
an arrangement of a fleet in a wedge or V formation
Echelonverb
to place in echelon; to station divisions of troops in echelon
Echelonverb
to take position in echelon
Etymology: [F., fr. chelle ladder, fr. L. scala.]
Wikidata
Echelon
ECHELON is a name used in global media and in popular culture to describe a signals intelligence collection and analysis network operated on behalf of the five signatory states to the UKUSA Security Agreement. It has also been described as the only software system which controls the download and dissemination of the intercept of commercial satellite trunk communications. ECHELON, according to information in the European Parliament document, "On the existence of a global system for the interception of private and commercial communications" was created to monitor the military and diplomatic communications of the Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies during the Cold War in the early 1960s. The system has been reported in a number of public sources. Its capabilities and political implications were investigated by a committee of the European Parliament during 2000 and 2001 with a report published in 2001, and by author James Bamford in his books on the National Security Agency of the United States. The European Parliament stated in its report that the term ECHELON is used in a number of contexts, but that the evidence presented indicates that it was the name for a signals intelligence collection system. The report concludes that, on the basis of information presented, ECHELON was capable of interception and content inspection of telephone calls, fax, e-mail and other data traffic globally through the interception of communication bearers including satellite transmission, public switched telephone networks and microwave links.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Echelon
esh′e-long, n. an arrangement of troops in battalions or divisions placed parallel to one another, but no two on the same alignment, each having its front clear of that in advance. [Fr., from échelle, a ladder or stair. See Scale.]
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms
echelon
1. A subdivision of a headquarters, i.e., forward echelon, rear echelon. 2. Separate level of command. As compared to a regiment, a division is a higher echelon, a battalion is a lower echelon. 3. A fraction of a command in the direction of depth to which a principal combat mission is assigned; i.e., attack echelon, support echelon, reserve echelon. 4. A formation in which its subdivisions are placed one behind another, with a lateral and even spacing to the same side.
CrunchBase
Echelon
Echelon Corporation develops, markets, and sells system and network infrastructure products. In the building, home, industrial, transportation and other automation markets, the Company sells a line of control networking products to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). OEMs design in, or embed the Company’s products into their products and systems. The Company’s line of LonWorks Infrastructure (LWI) network infrastructure products include transceivers, control modules, routers, network interfaces, development tools, and software tools and toolkits. For system integrators serving the street lighting, remote facility monitoring, and energy management markets, it has developed the i.LON SmartServer family of energy management products. For the electric utility industry, the Company has have developed a grid infrastructure system, the Networked Energy Services (NES) system. The NES system provides a two-way information and control path between the utility and its customer.
Dictionary of Nautical Terms
echelon
[Fr.] Expressing the field-exercise of soldiers, when the divisions are placed in a situation resembling the steps of a ladder, whence the name.
Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
echelon
A military term applied to a certain arrangement of troops when several divisions are drawn up in parallel lines, each to the right or the left of the one preceding it, like “steps,” or the rounds of a ladder, so that no two are on the same alignment. Each division by marching directly forward can form a line with that which is in advance of it. There are two sorts of echelon, direct and oblique, the former of which is used in an attack or retreat.
Matched Categories
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Anagrams for echelon »
chelone
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of echelon in Chaldean Numerology is: 6
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of echelon in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8
Examples of echelon in a Sentence
Al Sharbi was very forthcoming and very determined, al Sharbi was not in the planner-organizer echelon, Al Sharbi was in the executor-operator echelon. Al Sharbi made bombs, had direct ties to Bin Laden, and had sway over others because of that tie. Al Sharbi was extremely important to Al Sharbi terrorist network because Al Sharbi was well-trained and could make things work.
We will set the highest efficiency standards for these top echelon buildings, and then move the mass population towards that standard.
During the review period, no Commanding General or subordinate echelon commander chose to intervene proactively and mitigate known risks of high crime, sexual assault and sexual harassment. The result was a pervasive lack of confidence in the SHARP Program and an unacceptable lack of knowledge of core SHARP components regarding reporting and certain victim services.
They operate at the next higher headquarters, they are not down on the ground with the fighters or in the lower echelon headquarters.
These people know each other, often travel to the same destinations, communicate and have a closed system. Tatarsky occupied a significant place in this community, at the same time, he was also a critic of the Russian officer corps and the upper echelon making decisions about military actions. Sometimes his … analysis caused a wave of negative reactions among officers, because he, as a staunch defender of Russia and its army, wanted to see this army more successful than it actually was.
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References
Translations for echelon
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"echelon." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 14 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/echelon>.
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