FRANCHISE • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Franchise

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/frˈæntʃˌaɪz/ Listen

noun

Franchise n.

Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty. (Obs.)

(LAw) A particular privilege conferred by grant from a sovereign or a government, and vested in individuals; an immunity or exemption from ordinary jurisdiction; a constitutional or statutory right or privilege, esp. the right to vote. "Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning franchise of the American people."

The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary. "Churches and mobasteries in Spain are franchises for criminals."

Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility. "Franchise in woman." (Obs.)

Elective franchise, the privilege or right of voting in an election of public officers.

verb

Franchise v. t. (past & past part. franchised; pres. part. franchising) To make free; to enfranchise; to give liberty to.

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Etymology of 'Franchise'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Franchise" Quotes from Famous Books

... attacked the sources from which the crown derived its corrupt influence over parliament. They carried bills preventing contractors from sitting in parliament and depriving revenue officers of the franchise. As these officers, who were dependent on the ministers of the crown, numbered according to one computation nearly 40,000, and to another 60,000, out of an electorate of about 300,000, their disfranchisement was an important step towards ...

— The Political History of England - Vol. X. • William Hunt

... who upheld the freedom of the colony from English interference and control there were many who complained of the form the government was taking. The franchise was limited to church members, which debarred five-sixths of the population from voting and holding office; the magistrates insisted on exercising a negative vote upon the proceedings of the deputies, because they deemed it necessary to prevent the colony from degenerating ...

— The Fathers of New England - A Chronicle of the Puritan Commonwealths • Charles M. Andrews

... authority, and to station a Federal officer at every cross-road. This, of course, cannot be done, and ought not even if it could. The true way and the easiest way is to make our government entirely consistent with itself, and give to every loyal citizen the elective franchise,—a right and power which will be ever present, and will form a wall of fire ...

— Collected Articles of Frederick Douglass • Frederick Douglass

... elective franchise to all persons of color who can read the Constitution of the United States in English and write their names, and to all persons of color who own real estate valued at not less than two hundred and fifty dollars ...

— The Sequel of Appomattox - A Chronicle of the Reunion of the States, Volume 32 In The - Chronicles Of America Series • Walter Lynwood Fleming

... delightful things, Factory Acts, Female Inspectors, the Eight Hours' Bill, the Parliamentary Franchise. . . . Everything, in fact, that you would ...

— An Ideal Husband - A Play • Oscar Wilde

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