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

"These new images raise more questions about what exactly the Department of Justice has in its possession," said ranking member of the committee, Robert Garcia.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

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

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