RANK AND FILE Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

rank and file

noun

Definition of rank and file

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of rank and file The choice was particularly interesting to Hollywood rank and file, which, in the era of M&A and private equity investments, is contending with more than a few minefields. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2026 Biden’s decision to continue military aid to Israel, with only a handful of exceptions, as the death toll mounted in Gaza and Israel failed to facilitate adequate aid, caused widespread distress in the administration, on Capitol Hill, and in the party’s rank and file. — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 But as the tables turned quickly on Thursday afternoon, many rank and file staffers expressed regret that the studio would not be hitched to the industry’s dominant subscription streaming platform but rather to a smaller, struggling rival legacy media conglomerate. — Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026 Compromise with police union The notion of tweaking retirement rules for police leadership initially ruffled feathers among the police department’s rank and file. — Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rank and file

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank and file

Noun

Their software was open to inspection by parties, universities and watchdogs for 11 months before being digitally signed and sealed in public.

— Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
And the late-night viewing public got to be a part of that process this week, thanks to Late Night With Seth Meyers.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of public

Noun

Sure, in 1854, the first prepacked box of Whitman's chocolates was introduced, guaranteeing to the American populace a standard of staleness, of flavorlessness, for years to come.

— Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
The idea is that voting is not the only way to drive change; demonstration is considered a bedrock value, a way to make elites hear the populace and to defend freedoms.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of populace

Noun

Tim Buchanan, a legendary Aledo football head coach and Republican, also addressed Hinojosa’s roughly 250-person crowd Tuesday night.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026
The fall shift to standard time already brings dozens more cars to the drive-in through December, and making the change permanent could help accommodate bigger crowds year-round.

— Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of crowd

Noun

Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.

— Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026

Definition of people

Noun

Clashes erupted in Paris as a mass march drew to a close Saturday, with more than 400,000 people rallying across France over school funding and soaring living costs in a fresh challenge to President Emmanuel Macron.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Stupendously large black holes greater than 1 million billion to 10 million billion suns in mass would be heavier than entire galaxies.

— Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of mass

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rank

rank and file

rank and files

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“Rank and file.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank%20and%20file. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rank and file

noun

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