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
Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Their lawyers prepared to argue that Rupert and Lachlan were disenfranchising them to further Rupert’s dynastic and political project.
—Gabriel Sherman, Vanity Fair, 14 Jan. 2026
The Democratic National Committee (DNC), on the other hand, filed an amicus brief Friday arguing that, if justices rule for the RNC, voters across the country would be disenfranchised by mail delays.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026
Officials in Oregon and Washington, which accept ballots as long as they are postmarked by Election Day, said that could disenfranchise thousands of voters.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disenfranchise
Cite this Entry
“Disenfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disenfranchise. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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disenfranchise
verb
Legal Definition
disenfranchise
transitive verb
