How do you use "Rank and file" in a sentence?

The rank and file members are unhappy with the decision. Leadership ignored the rank and file. It's popular with the rank and file.

Rank and file

Q: What does "Rank and file" mean?

Ordinary members; non-leadership personnel Originally the rows (ranks) and columns (files) of ordinary soldiers. Now describes ordinary members of any organization, as opposed to leadership.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Ordinary members; non-leadership personnel

普通成员；非领导层人员

Miembros ordinarios; personal no directivo

一般構成員、指導部以外の人員

일반 구성원; 지도부 이외의 인원

Originally the rows (ranks) and columns (files) of ordinary soldiers. Now describes ordinary members of any organization, as opposed to leadership.

最初指普通士兵的横排（ranks）和纵列（files）。现在描述任何组织中的普通成员，与领导层相对。

Originalmente las filas (ranks) y columnas (files) de soldados ordinarios. Ahora describe a los miembros ordinarios de cualquier organización, en oposición a la dirección.

元々は一般兵士の横列（ranks）と縦列（files）を指していた。現在はあらゆる組織の指導部ではない一般構成員を指す。

원래 일반 병사들의 대열(rank)과 줄(file)을 의미. 현재는 지도부와 대비하여 조직의 일반 구성원을 가리킨다.

Examples

The rank and file members are unhappy with the decision.
普通成员对这个决定不满
La base está descontenta con la decisión
一般会員はその決定に不満だ
일반 회원들은 그 결정에 불만이다.
Leadership ignored the rank and file.
领导层忽视了普通成员
La dirección ignoró a la base
指導部は一般構成員を無視した
지도부는 일반 구성원을 무시했다.
It's popular with the rank and file.
这在基层很受欢迎
Es popular entre la base
一般メンバーに人気がある
일반 구성원들에게 인기가 있다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: politics, unions, organizations

Tone: neutral, sometimes sympathetic

✓ Do Say

Rank and file members
普通成员
Miembros de base
一般メンバー
일반 구성원들
The rank and file
基层
La base
一般構成員
평조합원들

✗ Don't Say

N/A—widely understood
不适用——广泛理解
No aplica: ampliamente entendido
特になし——広く理解されている
해당 없음—널리 통용됨

Common Mistakes

None significant

Origin & History

Military drill formation where soldiers stand in ranks (horizontal rows) and files (vertical columns). Ordinary soldiers formed the rank and file, while officers stood apart.

Etymology: Military drill formation terms

First recorded: 16th century military, figurative use later

Cultural Context

Era: 16th century onwards

Generation: All generations

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Union discourse; Political journalism

Regional notes: Universal English, military origin.

Variations

Rank and fileThe rank and file