a person in a position of higher authority in an organization; superior.
Origin
1910-15, Americanism; noun use of adj. phrase higher up
British Dictionary definitions for higher-up
higher-up
noun
1.
(informal) a person of higher rank or in a superior position
Slang definitions & phrases for higher-up
higher-up
noun
One of the persons in charge; a member of the upper echelon; big shot •Mostoftenintheplural: A conference with the Higher-ups and Tammany Hall/ She always fought with the movie higher-ups(1916+)