disenfranchise
verb
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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
Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
Critics say the order will only result in large swaths of voters being disenfranchised, and multiple groups, including the Democratic National Committee, have filed lawsuits over the executive order to block it from moving forward.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 2 Apr. 2025
Democratic groups and voting rights organizations have criticized the ballot initiative as potentially disenfranchising voters.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025
Consisting mostly of those disenfranchised by warfare that has ravaged the country, Tataraba is a small settlement that Eboshi is determined to see thrive, using new technology like guns to defend her home.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disenfranchise
Cite this Entry
“Disenfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disenfranchise. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
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disenfranchise
verb
Legal Definition
disenfranchise
transitive verb
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