as in masses
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank and files
Noun
-
Museums are sincerely trying to connect with their publics (even if these are often cast as consumers), and the horizon for that experiment is almost limitless.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026 -
European publics are less diplomatic.—
Ivan Krastev,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Officers in riot gear and on horseback worked to manage large crowds that poured into the streets following the win.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
-
Initial crowds were eager to watch the twisty conspiracy thriller on the biggest and brightest screens, with premium large formats representing a mighty 48% of grosses.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
14 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Rank and files.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank%20and%20files. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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