rank and file

American  

noun

1. the members of a group or organization apart from its leaders or officers.

2. rank.

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rank and file British  

noun

1. the ordinary soldiers of an army, excluding the officers

2. the great mass or majority of any group or organization, as opposed to the leadership

3. (modifier) of, relating to, or characteristic of the rank and file

   rank-and-file opinion

   rank-and-file support

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rank and file Cultural  

1. The people who form the major portion of any group or organization, excluding the leaders: “The rumors of corruption at the top disturbed the party's rank and file.” This phrase comes from military usage, where enlisted men march in ranks (close abreast) and files (one behind another), whereas officers march outside these formations.

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rank and file Idioms  

1. Followers, the general membership, as in This new senator really appeals to the rank and file in the labor unions. This expression comes from the military, where a rank denotes soldiers standing side by side in a row, and file refers to soldiers standing behind one another. The first recorded figurative use of this term was in 1860.

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Other Word Forms

• rank and filer
  noun
• rank-and-file
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of rank and file

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Rohrbaugh is seen as well-tempered and liked by the rank and file and other executives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

The Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, says the total will include five inspectors.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

The stew of issues bubbling through the transactions is why most of the rank and file at CNN rooted for Netflix to prevail in its bidding for Warner Bros.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

An orderly transition would require assistance from the rank and file.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

By 1957, most of the old union leaders had followed the Captain into retirement, and a new crop was eager to show their worth to the rank and file.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam