An echelon in an organization or society is a level or rank in it.
例句
...the lower echelons of society.社会等级较低的阶层
N-COUNT
(士兵、车辆、军舰、飞机等的)梯形编队,梯队
An echelon is a military formation in which soldiers, vehicles, ships, or aircraft follow each other but are spaced out sideways so that they can see ahead.
英汉词典释义
n.
(机构中的)等级,阶层
Officers were drawn largely from the top echelons of society.这些官员大都来自社会上层。
英英词典释义
Noun
1. a body of troops arranged in a line
2. a diffraction grating consisting of a pile of plates of equal thickness arranged stepwise with a constant offset