ranking member

Cultural

A legislator on a committee who belongs to the majority party and, by virtue of seniority, ranks first after the committee chairman. The most senior member representing the minority party is the ranking minority member of the committee.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Durbin is also the Democratic whip in the Senate and serves as the ranking member of Senate Judiciary Committee.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Rep. Adam Smith is the ranking member of the House committee that’s supposed to have oversight on the Department of Defense—yes, that’s what he still calls it.

From Slate • Jan. 14, 2026

Coons said he had not been briefed on the administration’s intentions in Venezuela, despite being the ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

From Salon • Dec. 11, 2025

Adm Bradley "did the right thing", said Democratic congressman Jim Himes, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, after he heard from the admiral and viewed the video.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025

He is no longer a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, nor a ranking member of the military establishment.

From Oberheim (Voices) by Leadem, Christopher

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023