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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rank and file
Before a small crowd of Gallo’s rank and file officers, Fisk placed the commish’s melon between his meaty palms, squeeeeeeezed….
—
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 15 Apr. 2025
White House spokesman Kush Desai indicated that Fain’s praise puts him in league with his union’s rank and file.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 31 Mar. 2025
The abrupt move to shutter VOA has shocked its rank and file, but signs of massive change at the agency have been evident for weeks.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025
More recently, he’s publicly called for more rank and file public involvement in government.
—David Jeans, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 15 Apr. 2025
White House spokesman Kush Desai indicated that Fain’s praise puts him in league with his union’s rank and file.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 31 Mar. 2025
The abrupt move to shutter VOA has shocked its rank and file, but signs of massive change at the agency have been evident for weeks.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025
More recently, he’s publicly called for more rank and file public involvement in government.
—David Jeans, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank and file
Noun
-
The issue has long divided the Jewish Israeli public, especially during the 20-month war in the Gaza Strip.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
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In part because there have been no assurances whatsoever that this administration keeps the private sector private and the public sector public.—
Miles Parks,
NPR,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
That’s something that certainly showcases a semblance of how the populace might react.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
For Bass, her speech was about more than just reassuring a disquieted populace and workforce.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s rallies, inflammatory language, thin skin toward criticism, obsession with crowd size and media coverage — Çifci suggests these to be symptoms of a personality driven by defensive grandiosity.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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American and Israeli colors lined the streets of Aventura, where a crowd of more than 500 people embarked Sunday on a three-mile march — escorted by police — to raise awareness for rising antisemitism at home and abroad.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2025
Noun
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At the same time a lot of people acquired guns illegally because of fears stoked by a nationwide rise in violent crime.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2025
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Typhoon drowns China's Hainan island BEIJING -- Authorities evacuated thousands of people, closed schools and canceled flights Friday as a typhoon dumped heavy rain on parts of China's Hainan island and headed for the country's southern coast.—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
Arkansas Online,
14 June 2025
Noun
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Maryland banned AR-15s after Sandy Hook shooting Maryland passed its ban after the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, one of the deadliest school shootings in the nation’s history.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
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The law was enacted after the deadly 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
Noun
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In 1958, President Eisenhower invoked the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to Arkansas to enforce the Supreme Court’s decision ending racial segregation in schools, and to defend Black students against a violent mob.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
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An angry mob of citizens — who recognized him from media coverage as the Night Stalker — surrounded him, beating him with a steel rod until police arrived.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rank and file.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank%20and%20file. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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