as in public
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rank and file
White House spokesman Kush Desai indicated that Fain’s praise puts him in league with his union’s rank and file.
—
Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 31 Mar. 2025
The abrupt move to shutter VOA has shocked its rank and file, but signs of massive change at the agency have been evident for weeks.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025
More recently, he’s publicly called for more rank and file public involvement in government.
—David Jeans, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Speaker Johnson is facing a major test in his effort to rally his rank and file.
3:23
House Republican leaders plan to move forward with a vote on the budget plan Tuesday night despite opposition from at least four Republicans, leaning on President Donald Trump to help convince the holdouts.
—John Parkinson, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 31 Mar. 2025
The abrupt move to shutter VOA has shocked its rank and file, but signs of massive change at the agency have been evident for weeks.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025
More recently, he’s publicly called for more rank and file public involvement in government.
—David Jeans, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Speaker Johnson is facing a major test in his effort to rally his rank and file.
3:23
House Republican leaders plan to move forward with a vote on the budget plan Tuesday night despite opposition from at least four Republicans, leaning on President Donald Trump to help convince the holdouts.
—John Parkinson, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank and file
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank and file
Noun
-
But the American public is bound to be particularly sensitive to the functioning of our transportation infrastructure.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2025
-
The idea has drawn some criticism, including the observation that the U.S. public has been getting along just fine all these years without such an advocate.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
In this case, the first task is to acquaint the local populace with the new part-owner and his significance before the franchise can capitalize on his worldwide stature in the sport.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
23 May 2025
-
Whether this research method is an adequate representation of the populace at large is an open question.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
In April, a 30-year-old man sped an SUV down a closed street into a crowd of people attending a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, Canada, killing 11.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
27 May 2025
-
Far-right groups promoted a false rumor that the attacker was a migrant, leading to days of race riots that saw crowds of agitators target and attack hotels housing asylum seekers.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
That’s encouraging for people who are newer to resistance training or are concerned about injuring themselves in the gym, McDowell said.—
Julia Ries,
Health,
22 May 2025
-
Several people sent the couple their condolences in the comment section.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
His legacy—and that of the CIA in South Africa—is written in surveillance files, detention cells, and mass graves.—
Time,
Time,
22 May 2025
-
Treating dogs as child substitutes and seeking out extreme infantile traits in them raises several ethical concerns that have led to the mass breeding of some unhealthy traits over time.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
In a further sign that Hamas, which has been controlling the flow of food and supplies, is losing its grip, a mob broke into a warehouse in central Gaza to take flour.—
The Editors,
National Review,
29 May 2025
-
El-Amin’s uncle, Dennis Hubert, was an 18-year-old Black divinity student in 1930 when a mob of seven White men lynched him on the playground of an Atlanta school.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rank and file.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank%20and%20file. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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