disenfranchise

verb

dis·​en·​fran·​chise ˌdis-in-ˈfran-ˌchīz 

disenfranchised; disenfranchising; disenfranchises

transitive verb

: to deprive of a franchise, of a legal right, or of some privilege or immunity

especially : to deprive of the right to vote

disenfranchising the poor and elderly

disenfranchisement

ˌdis-in-ˈfran-ˌchīz-mənt 

-chəz-

noun

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What Does It Mean to Disenfranchise Someone?

Disenfranchise first appeared in English in the 17th century, preceded for a period of some 200 years by the now uncommon word disfranchise. Though both words are, rather obviously, related to franchise, they have nothing to do with that word’s current sense “a team that is a member of a professional sports league." The original meaning of franchise was “freedom from servitude or restraint.” Although disenfranchise does broadly signify depriving someone of any of a number of legal rights, it is most often used today of withholding the right to vote, or of the diminished social or political status of a marginalized group.

Examples of disenfranchise in a Sentence

They disenfranchised poor people by making property ownership a requirement for registering to vote.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some people argue that the outcome disenfranchises the California residents whose votes should have been determinative. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Rules disenfranchising people with convictions offer a particularly stark version of that very real problem. —Justin Levitt, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2024

For not only will this impact the results of the election in November, but disenfranchising a whole bloc of potential voters could shape this generation’s political participation for years to come. Ellie Porte, a graduate of American University, on the school’s campus in Washington, DC. —Rachel Janfaza, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2024

Laws that disenfranchised voters legally sanctioned the violent overthrow of local governments. —Domingo Morel / Made By History, TIME, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

disenfranchise

verb

dis·​en·​fran·​chise ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈfran-ˌchīz 

: to deprive of a legal right

especially : to deprive of the right to vote

disenfranchisement

-ˌchīz-mənt 

-chəz-

noun

Legal Definition

disenfranchise

transitive verb

dis·​en·​fran·​chise ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈfran-ˌchīz 

disenfranchised; disenfranchising

: disfranchise

disenfranchisement noun