# rank and file

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/rank-and-file
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The members of an organization, community, etc. who are not in leadership positions.

## Examples

- The rank and file members want better pay.
- The new policy caused a lot of frustration among the rank and file workers at the factory.
- While the executives debated the merger in private, the rank and file remained anxious about the future of their jobs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.