rank and file

rank and file

noun

Definition of RANK AND FILE

1

: the enlisted personnel of an armed force

2

: the individuals who constitute the body of an organization, society, or nation as distinguished from the leaders

— rank–and–file \ˌraŋk-^ən-ˈfī(-ə)l\ adjective

— rank and fil·er \-ˈfī-lər\ noun

Examples of RANK AND FILE

1. <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>

First Known Use of RANK AND FILE

1598

Related to RANK AND FILE

Synonyms: commoners, commons, crowd, herd, hoi polloi, millions, mob, multitude, people, plebeians, plebs, populace, public, mass

Antonyms: A-list, aristocracy, best, choice, corps d'elite, cream, elect, elite, fat, flower, pick, pink, pride, upper crust

Related Words: cattle, proletariat, rabble, rabblement, ragtag and bobtail, riffraff, rout, scum, tag, rag, and bobtail (or tagrag and bobtail), trash, unwashed; bourgeoisie, middle class

Near Antonyms: gentility, gentlefolk (also gentlefolks), gentry, haute monde, nobility, patriciate, peerage, quality, royalty, society

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Rhymes with RANK AND FILE

Anglophile, country mile, cyclostyle, domicile, family style, Francophile, Gallophile, hypostyle, in denial, juvenile, projectile, rat-tail file, single file, statute mile