file

1 of 8

noun (1)

ˈfī(-ə)l 

1

: a tool usually of hardened steel with cutting ridges for forming or smoothing surfaces especially of metal

2

: a shrewd or crafty person

file

2 of 8

verb (1)

filed; filing

transitive verb

: to rub, smooth, or cut away with or as if with a file

She filed her nails.

file

3 of 8

verb (2)

filed; filing

transitive verb

chiefly dialectal

: defile, corrupt

file

4 of 8

verb (3)

filed; filing

transitive verb

1

: to arrange in order for preservation and reference

file letters

2

a

: to place among official records as prescribed by law

file a mortgage

b

: to send (copy) to a newspaper

filed a story

c

: to return to the office of the clerk of a court without action on the merits

3

: to initiate (something, such as a legal action) through proper formal procedure

threatened to file charges

intransitive verb

1

: to register as a candidate especially in a primary election

2

: to place items in a file

3

: to submit documents necessary to initiate a legal proceeding

file for bankruptcy

filer

ˈfī-lər 

noun

file

5 of 8

noun (2)

1

: a device (such as a folder, case, or cabinet) by means of which papers are kept in order

2

a

archaic : roll, list

b

: a collection of papers or publications usually arranged or classified

c(1)

: a collection of related data records (as for a computer)

(2)

: a complete collection of data (such as text or a program) treated by a computer as a unit especially for purposes of input and output

file

6 of 8

noun (3)

1

: single file

2

: any of the rows of squares that extend across a chessboard from one player's side to the other player's side

file

7 of 8

verb (4)

filed; filing

intransitive verb

: to march or proceed in single file

filé

8 of 8

noun (4)

fi·​lé fə-ˈlā 

(ˌ)fē-ˈlā,

ˈfē-(ˌ)lā

variants or less commonly file

: powdered young leaves of sassafras used to thicken soups or stews

Phrases

on file

: in or as if in a file for ready reference

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• buff
• grind
• hone
• rasp
• rub
• sand

Noun (3)

• column
• cue
• line
• queue
• range
• string
• train

Verb (4)

• march
• pace
• parade
• stride

Examples of file in a Sentence

Verb (1)

beautifully filed nails that obviously had been done by a manicurist

Noun (3)

a long file of people waiting to get tickets to the game

Verb (4)

to the strains of that familiar music, this year's graduating class filed into the auditorium

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In cases like this, the USPS offers options for filing a claim if a package arrives damaged or is forcibly removed from a mailbox. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024

For married couples filing jointly, if the spouse making the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range increased to $126,000 to $146,000, from $123,000 to $143,000. —Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2024

Noun

In the final weeks of the campaign, Gallego and his ex-wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, lost a court battle to keep their 2016 divorce file sealed any longer. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

According to Hristo Hristov, a Bulgarian investigative journalist who has researched recently opened state files on drug trafficking, the revenues provided the government, which was starved of funds, with an important source of foreign currency. —Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

Middle English, from Old English fēol; akin to Old High German fīla file

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English fȳlan, from fūl foul

Verb (3) and Noun (2)

Middle English, from Medieval Latin filare to string documents on a string or wire, from filum file of documents, literally, thread, from Latin; akin to Armenian ǰil sinew

Noun (3) and Verb (4)

Middle French, from filer to spin, draw out, from Late Latin filare, from Latin filum

Noun (4)

Louisiana French, from French, past participle of filer to twist, spin

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (4)

1614, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1806, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing file

• circular file
• cross-file
• data file
• file/bring (a) suit
• file cabinet
• file clerk
• file for bankruptcy
• file/initiate a lawsuit
• Indian file
• nail file
• on file
• pre-file
• rank and file
• rat-tail file
• single file
• sub-file
• the rank and file
• vertical file
• zip file

Kids Definition

file

1 of 6 noun

ˈfīl 

: a usually steel tool with sharp ridges or teeth on its surface for smoothing hard substances

file

2 of 6 verb

filed; filing

: to rub, smooth, or cut away with a file

file

3 of 6 verb

filed; filing

1

: to arrange in order for keeping or reference

2

: to enter or record as required by law

file

4 of 6 noun

1

: a device (as a folder, case, or cabinet) for keeping papers or records in order

2

a

: a collection of papers or records arranged in order

b

: a collection of data considered as a unit (as for a computer)

file

5 of 6 noun

: a row of persons, animals, or things arranged one behind the other

file

6 of 6 verb

filed; filing

: to march or proceed in file

Etymology

Noun

Old English fēol "tool for smoothing rough edges"

Verb

Middle English filen "to arrange (documents) in order," from Medieval Latin filare "to thread documents on a string," derived from Latin filum "thread" — related to file entry 5

Noun

from early French file "a row of things," from filer (verb) "to spin," derived from Latin filum "thread" — related to file entry 3

Medical Definition

file

noun

ˈfī(ə)l 

1

: a tool usually of hardened steel with cutting ridges for forming or smoothing surfaces (as of a tooth)

2

: a narrow instrument for shaping fingernails with a fine rough metal or emery surface

file transitive verb

filed; filing

Legal Definition

file

1 of 2 verb

filed; filing

transitive verb

1

a

: to submit (a legal document) to the proper office (as the office of a clerk of court) for keeping on file among the records especially as a procedural step in a legal transaction or proceeding

filed a tax return

a financing statement filed with the Secretary of State

filing a notice of appeal

also : record

filed a mortgage in the Registry of Deeds

Note: In nearly all cases, a document is deemed to be filed when it is actually received by the office to which it is directed. A few cases, however, have held that a document is filed upon the mailing of it.

b

: to place (as a document) on file among the records of an office especially by formally receiving and endorsing

a complaint filed by the clerk despite the absence of the filing fee

2

: to return (the documentation in a case) to the records of a clerk of court without any determination of the case

broadly : to conclude (a case) without a determination on its merits

3

: to initiate (a judicial or administrative proceeding) by submitting the proper documents or following proper procedure : bring

threatened to file charges

two separate actions were filed by representatives of the estates

—J. H. Friedenthal et al.

intransitive verb

1

: to register as a candidate especially in a primary election

2

: to place items in a file

file

2 of 2 noun

: a collection of papers or publications usually arranged or classified

specifically : the papers that make up the record of a case