rank and file
noun
1
: the enlisted personnel of an armed force
2
: the individuals who constitute the body of an organization, society, or nation as distinguished from the leaders
Synonyms
Examples of rank and file in a Sentence
the chosen few might have the opportunity for a trip in the space shuttle, but it will be a while before the rank and file are taking space trips
Recent Examples on the Web
The push came from Singapore’s Tripartite Workgroup—comprised of representatives from the government, trade unions, rank and file workers, business leaders, and HR professionals—which convened in September with the express purpose of building out the country’s flexible-work guidance.
—
Jane Thier, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
The Baltimore Fire Fighters Local 734, which represents the city’s rank and file firefighters, gave $3,500.
—Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2024
But the company’s own rank and file workers can also be a problem for companies trying to deliver on their DEI goals.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
On those campuses and others, many rank and file union members are frustrated with union leadership for cutting the strike short and characterizing the tentative agreement as a win.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024
Two Novembers ago, Harrison Chase was just another rank and file engineer at an AI startup, tinkering on a side project at Bay Area hackathons.
—Alex Konrad, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024
Johnson met with conservatives on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the agreement in an effort to ease concerns from his rank and file.
—Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner, 11 Jan. 2024
But rank and file members voted down the contract Wednesday.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN, 22 June 2023
The Los Angeles Police Protective League — the union that represents the LAPD rank and file — spent around $32,000 in campaign mailers during last year’s primary blasting Soto-Martinez as a danger to L.A.’s safety.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2023
Jane Thier, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
The Baltimore Fire Fighters Local 734, which represents the city’s rank and file firefighters, gave $3,500.
—Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2024
But the company’s own rank and file workers can also be a problem for companies trying to deliver on their DEI goals.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
On those campuses and others, many rank and file union members are frustrated with union leadership for cutting the strike short and characterizing the tentative agreement as a win.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024
Two Novembers ago, Harrison Chase was just another rank and file engineer at an AI startup, tinkering on a side project at Bay Area hackathons.
—Alex Konrad, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024
Johnson met with conservatives on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the agreement in an effort to ease concerns from his rank and file.
—Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner, 11 Jan. 2024
But rank and file members voted down the contract Wednesday.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN, 22 June 2023
The Los Angeles Police Protective League — the union that represents the LAPD rank and file — spent around $32,000 in campaign mailers during last year’s primary blasting Soto-Martinez as a danger to L.A.’s safety.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rank and file.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rank and file
Cite this Entry
“Rank and file.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rank%20and%20file. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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