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

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