the rank and fileORDINARYthe ordinary members of an organization rather than the leaders 〔组织中的〕普通成员 The rank and file of the party had lost confidence in the leadership. 普通党员已对领导层失去了信任。
the rank and file• rank-and-file members• The rank and file has lost confidence in the party leadership.• conflict between union leaders and the rank and file at an Alfa Romeo factory• The policy will now have to be approved by the rank and file.
→ the rank and file at rank and file(1)