rank and file
noun
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Origin of rank and file
OTHER WORDS FROM rank and file
rank-and-file, adjectiveWords nearby rank and file
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British Dictionary definitions for rank and file
noun
Derived forms of rank and file
rank and filer, nounCultural definitions for rank and file
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.
Idioms and Phrases with rank and file
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.