Synonyms of rank and file

rank and file

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• public
• populace
• crowd
• people
• mass
• millions
• mob
• commoners
• commons
• hoi polloi
• multitude
• plebeians
• herd
• plebs
• cattle
• middle class
• ragtag and bobtail
• tag, rag, and bobtail
• rabblement
• proletariat
• rout
• rabble
• riffraff
• scum
• trash
• unwashed
• bourgeoisie

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• upper crust
• cream
• choice
• flower
• fat
• elect
• pride
• elite
• pink
• aristocracy
• pick
• A-list
• best
• quality
• corps d'elite
• society
• royalty
• nobility
• gentry
• peerage
• gentility
• patriciate
• gentlefolk
• haute monde

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rank and file

Doug Coates, acting president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, the union representing LAFD rank and file, declined to comment. — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026

But as the tables turned quickly on Thursday afternoon, many rank and file staffers expressed regret that the studio would not be hitched to the industry’s dominant subscription streaming platform but rather to a smaller, struggling rival legacy media conglomerate. — Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026

Compromise with police union The notion of tweaking retirement rules for police leadership initially ruffled feathers among the police department’s rank and file. — Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026

But the motivation among the industry’s rank and file, irrespective of their place of work, does not seem to be primarily financial. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026