The meaning of RANK AND FILE is the enlisted personnel of an armed force.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Rank and file'? The origin of the phrase ‘rank and file’ is the lining up of soldiers into ranks (that is, lines). Rank and file now refers to the ordinary members of any group but …

/ ˈræŋk ən ˈfɑɪl / Add to word list soldiers who are not officers, or the members of an organization who are not part of the leadership (Definition of rank and file from the Cambridge Academic Content …

This expression comes from the military, where a rank denotes soldiers standing side by side in a row, and file refers to soldiers standing behind one another. The first recorded figurative use of this term …

Aug 18, 2025 · "Rank and file" is an idiomatic expression that refers to the ordinary members of an organization or group, positioned outside of the leadership or command hierarchy. It is a way to …

The rank and file are the ordinary members of an organization or the ordinary workers in a company, as opposed to its leaders or managers.

There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the phrase rank and file, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Define rank and file. rank and file synonyms, rank and file pronunciation, rank and file translation, English dictionary definition of rank and file. n. 1. The enlisted troops, excluding noncommissioned …

In military contexts, “rank and file” refers specifically to enlisted personnel as opposed to officers. For example, someone might say that they served in the rank and file during their time in the army.

RANK AND FILE meaning: 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