Top echelon (5)
I believe the answer is:
elite
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">top echelon</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for elite that I've seen before include "First-class" , "type in pool?" , "Best, privileged, group" , "Group considered to have superior status" , "top drawer?" .)