enfranchise

[ en-fran-chahyz ]
/ ɛnˈfræn tʃaɪz /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR enfranchise ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), en·fran·chised, en·fran·chis·ing.

to grant a franchise to; admit to citizenship, especially to the right of voting.
to endow (a city, constituency, etc.) with municipal or parliamentary rights.
to set free; liberate, as from slavery.
Also franchise.

Origin of enfranchise

1505–15; < Middle French, Old French enfranchiss- (long stem of enfranchir to free), equivalent to en- en-1 + franch- free (see frank1) + iss- -ish2

OTHER WORDS FROM enfranchise

en·fran·chise·ment [en-fran-chahyz-muh nt, -chiz-] /ɛnˈfræn tʃaɪz mənt, -tʃɪz-/, noun en·fran·chis·er, noun un·en·fran·chised, adjective

Words nearby enfranchise

enflurane, enfold, enforce, enforcement, enforcer, enfranchise, eng, eng., eng. d., engadine, engage

Words related to enfranchisement

freedom, integrity, independence, liberation, autonomy, exemption, democracy, self-determination, emancipation, relief, privilege, release, sovereignty, self-government, immunity, citizenship, birthright, right, dispensation, rest

British Dictionary definitions for enfranchisement

enfranchise
/ (ɪnˈfræntʃaɪz) /

verb (tr)

to grant the power of voting to, esp as a right of citizenship
to liberate, as from servitude
(in England) to invest (a town, city, etc) with the right to be represented in Parliament
English law to convert (leasehold) to freehold

Derived forms of enfranchise

enfranchisement, noun enfranchiser, noun