rank and file

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Doyle said part of the secretary’s job is to set the tone for the agency so the rank and file know what is expected of them.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

But the rank and file, the “MAHA moms,” can be divided into two broad categories, which we’ll call the individualists and the structuralists.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026

The turnover has led to rapid elevations for some commanders who are less experienced and are likely to be preoccupied with stabilizing morale and enforcing loyalty across the rank and file.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

But among the rank and file, there is continued frustration with the department’s disciplinary system.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

At the very bottom of J. T.’s organization were as many as two hundred members known as the rank and file.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt