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Added 5 October 2026

franchise

/ˈfɹænt͡ʃaɪ̯z/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about franchise at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The right to vote at a public election or referendum; see: suffrage.
A right or privilege officially granted to a person, a group of people, or a company by a government.
An acknowledgment of a corporation's existence and ownership.

verb

To confer certain powers on; grant a franchise to; authorize.
To set free; invest with a franchise or privilege; enfranchise.
To give to others the rights to sell or distribute (goods or services).

Origin

From Middle English franchise, fraunchise, from Old French franchise (“freedom”), a derivative of franc (“free”). More at frank.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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