the rank and file

noun

1

: the people in the army, navy, air force, etc., who are not officers

2

: the members of a group or organization who are not leaders

The rank and file is/are unhappy with the chairman's decision.

Examples of the rank and file in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Should recognition go solely to the superstars, or should organizations also honor the contributions of the rank and file? —Antonis Kocheilas, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

All of the group’s branches have faced calls from the rank and file to join the caliphate. —Barak Mendelsohn, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2016

At the same time, the union released polling of its membership that showed strong support among the rank and file for Trump. —Jeremiah Poff, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025

The apparent disconnect in selecting Mr. Bongino has intensified mistrust among the rank and file. —Adam Goldman, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025

Rhymes for the rank and file

• bibliophile
• epicondyle
• geotextile
• nucleophile
• aisle
• bile
• chyle
• guile
• heil
• isle
• kyle
• mile