rank and file

noun

1
: the enlisted personnel of an armed force
2
: the individuals who constitute the body of an organization, society, or nation as distinguished from the leaders
rank-and-file adjective
rank and filer noun

Examples of rank and file in a Sentence

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
Recent Examples on the Web On those campuses and others, many rank and file union members are frustrated with union leadership for cutting the strike short and characterizing the tentative agreement as a win. Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024 Two Novembers ago, Harrison Chase was just another rank and file engineer at an AI startup, tinkering on a side project at Bay Area hackathons. Alex Konrad, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 Johnson met with conservatives on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the agreement in an effort to ease concerns from his rank and file. Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner, 11 Jan. 2024 But rank and file members voted down the contract Wednesday. Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN, 22 June 2023 The Los Angeles Police Protective League — the union that represents the LAPD rank and file — spent around $32,000 in campaign mailers during last year’s primary blasting Soto-Martinez as a danger to L.A.’s safety. Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2023 Beyond the leadership, the federal government’s rank and file, 2.2. million strong, is lopsided by age: More than 30 percent of federal workers are 55 or older, and only 8 percent are under 30 (by comparison, in the private sector, 20-somethings make up 23 percent of the workforce). Marc Fisher, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2023 The Times offered $1.6 million for about half the nascent company — an investment that would have drastically altered the newspaper’s history — but the Yahoo founders backed out. Schlosberg was known for showing consideration to rank and file employees. Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2024 Matthew Coster, president of the local union representing the city’s rank and file firefighters, said city leaders assured members who signed on for the bonus that their first payments would be made on Dec. 29. Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rank and file.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rank and file was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near rank and file

Cite this Entry

“Rank and file.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rank%20and%20file. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rank and file

noun
1
: the enlisted persons of one of the armed forces
2
: the ordinary members that make up the body of a group when considered apart from the leaders

Legal Definition

rank and file

noun
: the general membership of a union

More from Merriam-Webster on rank and file

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