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
Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 3 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.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Berbert continues that if Maryland Republicans were to lose their one congressional seat, approximately 40% of the state’s residents would be disenfranchised (there’s that word again).
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2026
Millions of Democrats in Texas, Republicans in California and partisans in other states have been effectively disenfranchised, their voices rendered mute.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 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 7 Mar. 2026.
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disenfranchise
verb
Legal Definition
disenfranchise
transitive verb
