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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rank and file
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
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
Historically, much of Silicon Valley's rank and file have been politically to the left of their leaders and quick to protest.
—Joseph Menn The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 21 Jan. 2026
The automaker spent much of the year undoing decisions made by the previous CEO, Carlos Tavares, who resigned at the end of 2024, as stakeholders in the company — from dealers to union rank and file — were upset with him and unhappy with his leadership.
—Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Brent Lang, Variety, 27 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
Historically, much of Silicon Valley's rank and file have been politically to the left of their leaders and quick to protest.
—Joseph Menn The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 21 Jan. 2026
The automaker spent much of the year undoing decisions made by the previous CEO, Carlos Tavares, who resigned at the end of 2024, as stakeholders in the company — from dealers to union rank and file — were upset with him and unhappy with his leadership.
—Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank and file
Noun
-
Harry and his wife Meghan, who live in California, left the UK for North America in 2020 after stepping back from royal life, and have since been involved in a long-running, public falling out with his family.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
-
Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our people, our customers, and the riding public.—
Bri Buckley,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Pressure from a populace desperate to launder Colombia’s image from headlines of cocaine and civil war.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
Gentile da Foligno in Perugia Italy was one of the few regions in Latin Christendom where physicians organized into guilds in the fourteenth century and thus routinely treated the general populace, rather than merely the wealthier mercantile and aristocratic classes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Her extroverted big sister, on the other hand, loves being out and about, exploring new places, unruffled by noise or crowds.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
-
Organizers are encouraging fans to arrive early and plan ahead, as large crowds are expected for the team's match.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
-
The departments recently faced budget cuts as the city attempted to close the gap of a $1 billion budget shortfall and avoid mass layoffs.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Interestingly, Route 66 was also important to the Chicago mob, which used it extensively to bring liquor brewed in Southern Illinois to the thirsty market in the city.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
-
In 1973, the United States Attorney in Newark, Jonathan Goldstein, was pursuing a mob case that involved a man who worked for Columbia Records.—
Dan Hyman,
Rolling Stone,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rank and file.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank%20and%20file. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
