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

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

That doesn’t mean the Netflix-WBD deal is being embraced by Hollywood’s rank and file.

From Slate • Dec. 5, 2025

Downing Street has already shown it is willing to ditch plans that could save lots of money if the rank and file kick off vigorously enough.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025

“Some of that certainly derives from the remote leadership style in which the concerns of the rank and file seem to be routinely overturned,” Lurie said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 15, 2025

In spite of the amateurishness and opportunism of their leaders, the PAC rank and file displayed great courage and fortitude in their demonstrations at Sharpeville and Langa.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela