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
Since the election, he's made overtures to try to start on the right foot, including by holding early meetings with caucus leaders and some rank and file.
—
Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
The militia’s rank and file, meanwhile, was shattered first by pagers, then walkie-talkies that detonated in their hands, having been boobytrapped by Mossad.
—Karl Vick, Time, 13 June 2025
The town is bleeding amid runaway production, audience apathy and a widening gap between the 1% and the industry’s rank and file.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 22 May 2025
Recent encounters between Colombian law enforcement and armed groups suggest that children make up an alarming portion of their rank and file.
—Elizabeth Dickinson, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
The militia’s rank and file, meanwhile, was shattered first by pagers, then walkie-talkies that detonated in their hands, having been boobytrapped by Mossad.
—Karl Vick, Time, 13 June 2025
The town is bleeding amid runaway production, audience apathy and a widening gap between the 1% and the industry’s rank and file.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 22 May 2025
Recent encounters between Colombian law enforcement and armed groups suggest that children make up an alarming portion of their rank and file.
—Elizabeth Dickinson, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank and file
Noun
-
With a new, sobering jobs report out Friday, some current employees at the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) are seeking to reassure the American public that the government's economic data is reliable and worthy of their trust.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Musk and the president had a public falling out earlier this summer.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Some people seem to assume that AI is far beyond our world, and not just computers, data, and algorithms -- see my analysis of how low AI-literacy impacts the populace, at the link here.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
If Democratic messaging caters to the populace more concerned with the first objective than the latter, Hernaiz suspects their appeal will continue to wane.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Over the weekend, massive crowds gathered in downtown Chicago to protest a federal takeover and voice support for immigrants, according to WLS.—
Deena Zaru,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Beneath the canopy of a giant Ethiopian flag, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed addressed a crowd of dignitaries including the presidents of Somalia, Djibouti and Kenya.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In the end, there was a compromise and two start lines, one for the athletes, another for the mass runners, 50 yards behind.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
On social media, Marquette announced that all athletic events for the weekend would be canceled, and a special mass for the school community was held on Saturday afternoon.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The show follows mafia capo, Dwight, 25 years after he’s released from prison, building a new crew after realizing his mob family doesn’t have his best interests.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
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Officials said at least four deaths over the weekend came from mob violence and arson in Makassar.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rank and file.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank%20and%20file. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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