rank and file

noun

1. the members of a group or organization apart from its leaders or officers.
2. rank ¹( def 7a ).

rank and file

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 support

   rank-and-file opinion

rank and file

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.

Derived Forms

• rank and filer, noun

Other Words From

• rank-and-file adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rank and file¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

The Scottish Police Federation, the body that represents rank and file officers, said the move would take effect from Friday 1 November at 17:00.

From BBC

Do you really think he’ll be looking out for the men and women in the rank and file?

From Los Angeles Times

So it was little wonder that Sir Keir Starmer was so rapturously received in by the rank and file in the hall.

From BBC

“I think the mayor and the City Council would absolutely love him. I don’t know about the rank and file. That is the big question mark in my mind,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

MPs will whittle six candidates down to two, before the rank and file Tory membership vote for the eventual winner, who is expected to be declared on 2 November.

From BBC