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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Recent Examples of rank and file
Both discharge petitions already have the endorsement of more than 10 Republicans — an extraordinary demonstration of unrest among the GOP rank and file.
—
Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
There are reportedly conversations among rank and file senators to try to reach -- to negotiate the reopening of the government for a few weeks.
—Kendall Wright, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
There are reportedly conversations among rank and file senators to try to reach -- to negotiate the reopening of the government for a few weeks.
—Kendall Wright, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank and file
Noun
-
Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023 and made his diagnosis public the following year.—
Michaela Zee,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But that came potentially at the expense of appealing to an American public that really does want answers.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Neither of the first two games was overly competitive, although the local populace had no problem with the result of the first one.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The reigning monarch, president or dictator then unleashes the national army/armed forces upon the populace/rioters in an attempt to quell the unrest.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At one point, a song disparaging Noem and serving as an anti-ICE anthem that’s been widely circulated on social media could be heard coming from a crowd gathered outside the stadium.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The box defrosted after the game in front of a crowd that gathered on all sides in the final minutes of the countdown.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its mass is the most important factor in determining both its lifetime and its fate, with other secondary factors, such as metallicity (or the fraction of heavy elements present within it), also playing a role.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Its focus soon shifted to ousting dictator Slobodan Milosevic, using mass demonstrations and a general strike across the provinces to make its point.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
By the time Victor Villa arrived at his restaurant Villa’s Tacos in Highland Park on Monday afternoon, a mob of press surrounded him, a line of customers had stretched down the block since daybreak, and cars and TV-news satellite trucks circled the parking lot, double parked in front of red curbs.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
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Again and again, Jewish tradition warns against mob logic — against the false safety of blending into collective outrage.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rank and file.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank%20and%20file. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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