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

Proponents of the measure charged that Newsom was simply attempting to disenfranchise the voters. —K. Lloyd Billingsley, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024

Not only does state law require polling sites in every precinct to open at 6 a.m., but the party argues that the 15-30 minute delay disenfranchised some voters who had to abandon the line for various reasons, such as needing to get to work. —Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Nov. 2024

The Trump campaign on Wednesday sued in Bucks County, just outside of Philadelphia, to extend in-person voting amid concerns about long lines and allegations that some voters were being disenfranchised. —Brett Samuels, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024

Miller-Lerman disagreed in a scathing retort, saying that to find the laws unconstitutional could disenfranchise 59,000 Nebraska residents who have been eligible to vote since the 2005 law passed and that such a finding would consolidate power in the executive branch. —L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune, 17 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