rank-and-file
Common working people
Rank-and-file refers to the ordinary members of an organization as distinct from its leaders or officers.
The term originated in military contexts, describing soldiers lined up in rows (ranks) and columns (files), and now applies broadly to workers in a union, members of a political party, or employees in a company.
The rank-and-file voted overwhelmingly to reject the contract.
As an adjective, it describes things pertaining to ordinary members: rank-and-file sentiment, rank-and-file workers.
People in an organization
- employeesPaid staff members
- staffOrganization's workers collectively
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
- baseSupporting bottom structure
majority · mainstream · general · common · typical · average · everyday · regular
Joining into one
- workersPeople doing jobs
- blue-collarManual labor workforce
- wagesPayment for work
- strikesRefusals to work collectively
picket · collective bargaining · shop floor · grievances · seniority · overtime · shifts · steward
Signed up formally
- soldiersMilitary personnel who fight
- privatesLowest enlisted rank
- troopsMilitary personnel collectively
- infantryGround combat troops
platoon · squad · battalion · regiment · company · brigade · corps · division
Direct effort for reform
- organizingSystematically putting in order
- movementChange in position
- volunteersUnpaid willing workers
- localOf this area
community · base · mobilization · canvassing · door-to-door · petitioning · campaigns · advocacy
members
People in an organization
base · majority · mainstream · general · common · typical · average · everyday · regular · standard
union
Joining into one
- workersPeople doing jobs
- blue-collarManual labor workforce
- wagesPayment for work
strikes · picket · collective bargaining · shop floor · grievances · seniority · overtime · shifts · steward · dues
enlisted
Signed up formally
- soldiersMilitary personnel who fight
- privatesLowest enlisted rank
- troopsMilitary personnel collectively
infantry · platoon · squad · battalion · regiment · company · brigade · corps · division · barracks
activism
Direct effort for reform
- organizingSystematically putting in order
- movementChange in position
- volunteersUnpaid willing workers
local · community · base · mobilization · canvassing · door-to-door · petitioning · campaigns · advocacy · populism
- commonerscommoner, commoners, peasant, peasants, common people
- labor unionsunion dues, trade union, union membership, labor union, union shops
- workforceworkers, employee, employees, labor force, employer
- Everymanaverage Joe, everyman, common man, regular Joe, regular guy
- overlookedoverlooked, unnoticed, ignored, forgotten, neglected
- underlingsunderling, underlings, subordinate, minions, minion
rank-and-fileleadership
Ability to direct others
management · executives · top brass · brass · bosses
rank-and-fileelite
Superior select group
VIPs · luminaries · bigwigs · notables · dignitaries
file, rank, files, ranks, ranking, filing, ranked, filed, defile