disenfranchised
adjective
dis·en·fran·chised
ˌdis-in-ˈfran-ˌchīzd 
: deprived of some right, privilege, or immunity
Tough, resourceful, and determined to help her disenfranchised and disenchanted students learn how to learn and love it, Johnson employs a barrage of techniques.—
Donna Seaman
Donna SeamanThe National Alliance for the Mentally Ill does what it can, but the millions of mentally ill remain the least supported, the most disenfranchised, and the most excluded people in our society today.—Oliver Sacks
Oliver Sacks
especially
: deprived of the right to vote
The value of the right to vote, however, given the reality of racial voting patterns, will depend on whether it translates into political power and influence for the previously disenfranchised minority. —Alan Freeman
Alan Freeman Examples of disenfranchised in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But along the way, these women found solidarity with other groups that felt disenfranchised under Mr. Yoon, and forged new bonds with traditional labor groups.
—Yejin Gim, Christian Science Monitor, 2 June 2025
Chicagoans are fiercely proud of their city's working-class reputation and Pope Leo - born here as Robert Francis Prevost - has a reputation in the Catholic Church for sticking up for worker's rights and the disenfranchised, something highly valued here.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Asked if Pope Francis succeeded in his efforts to mitigate the plight of the poor and disenfranchised, Wenski told the Sun Sentinel that the church has always been an advocate for the poor, with iconic figures such as Mother Teresa calling attention to the destitute in places such as India.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2025
In Iranian Kurdistan, unemployment is widespread, leading many disenfranchised men to pursue this dangerous career.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disenfranchised
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Yejin Gim, Christian Science Monitor, 2 June 2025
Chicagoans are fiercely proud of their city's working-class reputation and Pope Leo - born here as Robert Francis Prevost - has a reputation in the Catholic Church for sticking up for worker's rights and the disenfranchised, something highly valued here.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Asked if Pope Francis succeeded in his efforts to mitigate the plight of the poor and disenfranchised, Wenski told the Sun Sentinel that the church has always been an advocate for the poor, with iconic figures such as Mother Teresa calling attention to the destitute in places such as India.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2025
In Iranian Kurdistan, unemployment is widespread, leading many disenfranchised men to pursue this dangerous career.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disenfranchised
Cite this Entry
“Disenfranchised.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disenfranchised. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share