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
Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Many Democrats contend the law would disenfranchise vulnerable populations from voting, citing the burden of getting documents needed for an ID, while supporters of the bill note that the vast majority of people use photo ID for everyday tasks.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Ten other states permanently disenfranchise people with criminal convictions unless given explicit approval from the government.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
The switch surprised and frustrated residents who stopped to vote during their work dayor between errands only to be redirected elsewhere — an outcome predicted by county officials and voting rights activists who feared the GOP’s arrangement would disenfranchise voters.
—Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Disenfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disenfranchise. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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disenfranchise
verb
Legal Definition
disenfranchise
transitive verb
