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
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Democratic opposition to the bill is firm Democrats and many groups that champion voter access say there is little evidence of noncitizens voting and say the bill would disenfranchise millions of voters — including Republicans — by creating new burdens to prove citizenship.
—Mary Clare Jalonick, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Democrats have called it an overly restrictive bill that would disenfranchise millions of people who lack documentation like a passport or birth certificate.
—Mathew Miranda
updated March 17, Sacbee.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Most Democrats and voting rights groups have warned the legislation could disenfranchise millions of voters by imposing citizenship and photographic identification requirements.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Disenfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disenfranchise. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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disenfranchise
verb
Legal Definition
disenfranchise
transitive verb
