From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe rank and filethe rank and fileORDINARYthe ordinary members of an organization rather than the leaders The rank and file of the party had lost confidence in the leadership. → rank and file
Examples from the Corpus
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. 