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
Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
These mandates, if allowed to take effect, would potentially disenfranchise millions of voters.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Republicans, too, point to the example of Georgia, which broke several voting records in 2022 and 2024 despite new restrictions lawmakers imposed around voting after the 2020 election; Democrats and voting groups had argued the changes would disenfranchise voters.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 2 Apr. 2025
Voting rights groups have expressed concerns that the requirement could disenfranchise people.
—Time, 26 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 17 Apr. 2025.
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disenfranchise
verb
Legal Definition
disenfranchise
transitive verb
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