Also means
level
Usage Note
Échelon originally meant a rung of a ladder (échelle), and retains that sense, but its dominant modern use is figurative: a grade, level, or tier within a hierarchy — professional, military, or administrative. The phrase à l'échelon national ('at the national level') is standard in formal French. The plural échelons is very common.
Examples
"Il a gravi les échelons rapidement."
Natural Translation
He climbed the rungs quickly.
Literal Translation
He climbed the levels quickly.

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