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
Those unions’ rank and file, increasingly, see Democrats as cultural elitists who look down on them and want to replace their jobs.
—
David Weigel, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
There is some sense that rumblings are growing among the congressional rank and file, though nothing has surfaced yet that seems promising.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Her frustration lies with party leadership, not rank and file legislators whose hands are often tied by higher-ranking lawmakers, Budd told The Charlotte Observer.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2025
On one hand, AI is extremely unpopular among parts of the American rank and file.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
David Weigel, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
There is some sense that rumblings are growing among the congressional rank and file, though nothing has surfaced yet that seems promising.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Her frustration lies with party leadership, not rank and file legislators whose hands are often tied by higher-ranking lawmakers, Budd told The Charlotte Observer.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2025
On one hand, AI is extremely unpopular among parts of the American rank and file.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank and file
Noun
-
Claims otherwise insult the intelligence of the American public.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Of course, the accusations are troubling to a public who has long revered the family, which also includes dad David Beckham, and siblings Romeo, 23, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 14.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
After the war, many Iranians hoped things would change and that the government would leverage the nationalistic rally around the flag to introduce a more tenable social contract with the populace.—
CNN Staff,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The arrest of Maduro, while a monumental relief for the long-oppressed and abused Venezuelan populace, was incidental.—
Anthony Dominguez,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Her defensive effort led to a transition 3-pointer for Maddie Scherr that electrified the home crowd for TCU.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Minneapolis police and deputies with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office are still on the scene for crowd control measures, and metal gates have been set up to keep protesters at bay.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
To lawyers who paid Law Firm Headquarters (the Chhabra’s mass tort call center) for client referrals and partnered with Alpha Law (the pseudo law firm Vince operated with Ron), the settlement value of a plaintiff with revision surgery could be worth ten to fifteen times as much as one without.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Researchers at the University of Manchester, led by Professor Thomas Anthopoulos, have successfully stabilized perovskite solar cells, which could help move the low-cost technology into the global mass market.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu garment worker in Bangladesh, was beaten, hanged from a tree, and burned alive in a mob lynching.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The veteran sideline reporter and member of FOX Sports’ A-Team braved the freezing temperature in Philly by swaddling herself in a capacious coat, which drew comparisons to a diverse array of notorious icons of warmth including Cruella De Ville, Jon Snow, emus, mob wives, pimps, and Ric Flair.—
Perrie Samotin,
Glamour,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rank and file.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank%20and%20file. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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