as in public
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite
the chosen few might have the opportunity for a trip in the space shuttle, but it will be a while before the rank and file are taking space trips
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rank and file
All day, rank and file Republicans — and even committee chairs — grumbled about the process -- and the policy.
—
Hans Nichols, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024
According to the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, ABC’s rank and file are furious over the settlement, which was recommended by the general counsel of the network’s parent company and signed off on by Iger.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
In the week since Israel began its full assault in late September, the group’s leadership and rank and file had been decimated by successive military operations.
—Maha Yahya, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2024
Yet despite Trump’s strong support among the Senate’s rank and file, Hegseth still might be in trouble.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Hans Nichols, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024
According to the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, ABC’s rank and file are furious over the settlement, which was recommended by the general counsel of the network’s parent company and signed off on by Iger.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
In the week since Israel began its full assault in late September, the group’s leadership and rank and file had been decimated by successive military operations.
—Maha Yahya, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2024
Yet despite Trump’s strong support among the Senate’s rank and file, Hegseth still might be in trouble.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank and file
Noun
-
Meghan Markle will never win over UK public again, author claims Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of 'My Mother and I,' discusses how the Duchess of Sussex isn't going to be welcomed across the pond anytime soon after her royal exit.—
Brie Stimson,
Fox News,
9 Mar. 2025
-
People were used to devastating infectious diseases in the early 20th century—still, the U.S. public struggled with pandemic restrictions.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Hostages who have returned confirm what many feared: Hamas's actions are supported by significant portions of the Gazan populace, across generations.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
-
Top Stories For any sentient citizen, these are examples of how media are used to influence or persuade the populace — to further an agenda or encourage a particular, biased perception.—
Armond White,
National Review,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
In December, a car crashed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, west of Berlin, that resulted in five deaths and left more than 200 people injured.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Back inside the main party space, a crowd formed not far from the entrance.—
Chris Gardner,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
But two people with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal deliberations, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio relied on a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that gives him sweeping power to expel foreigners.—
Minho Kim,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Campbell was implicated and ultimately found guilty of the shooting, which left one man dead and multiple people injured, including rapper Troy Ave, whom Campbell had been embroiled in a war of words with on social media and elsewhere prior to the incident.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The full extent of the cuts won't be known until after the Tuesday night deadline for a mass firing largely carried out by email that's likely to dramatically reshape the government's health workforce.—
Adriel Bettelheim,
Axios,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Just a week before our arrival, the Trump administration fired about 1,000 permanent National Park Service workers as part of a mass purging of tens of thousands of federal workers still in the probationary period of their jobs.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Cohen worked on multiple mob cases and prosecutions of violent street gangs.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2025
-
In the past, Ted drags his old friend Stuart (McDermitt) into his mob case.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rank and file.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank%20and%20file. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share