the rank and file Definition

rank¹
noun

1. A line or row of people or things.

Thesaurus: row, line, column, file, string.
2. A line of soldiers standing side by side.
3. A position of seniority within an organization, society, the armed forces, etc.

Thesaurus: standing, caste, status, grade, class, degree, order, sphere, station.
4. A distinct class or group, eg according to ability.
5. High social position or status.
6. Ordinary soldiers, eg privates and corporals, as opposed to officers.

Form: the ranks
(Brit)
7. A place where taxis wait for passengers.

Example: taxi rank
8. chess.
A row of squares along the player's side of a chessboard.

verb ranked, ranking

1. To arrange (people or things) in a row or line.

Thesaurus: align, marshal, array, range.
tr & intr
2. To give or have a particular grade, position or status in relation to others.

Thesaurus: arrange, position, order, sort, class, classify, place, dispose, locate.
3. To have a higher position, status, etc than someone else; to outrank them.

Idiom: close ranks

Said of a group of people: to keep their solidarity.

Idiom: pull rank

To use one's higher rank or status to get what one wants.

Idiom: the rank and file

The ordinary members of an organization or society as opposed to the leaders or principal members.

The ordinary soldiers as opposed to the officers.

Etymology: 16c: from French renc rank, row.