'hierarchicalism' originates from English, specifically formed from the adjective 'hierarchical' plus the suffix '-ism', where 'hierarchical' ultimately traces back to Greek 'hierarkhēs', in which 'hieros' meant 'sacred' and 'arkhē' meant 'rule'.

'hierarchical' changed from Late Greek/Medieval Latin word 'hierarkhēs' and through Latin and Old French into Middle English forms such as 'hierarchy' and later 'hierarchical'; the modern English formation 'hierarchicalism' arose by adding the suffix '-ism' to denote a doctrine or belief.

Initially, related terms referred more narrowly to 'rule of sacred/priestly rulers' or the ordering of sacred offices; over time the sense broadened to general systems of ranked order and finally to 'the belief in or advocacy of ranking' as expressed by 'hierarchicalism'.