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
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 18 July 2025
An August election date may disenfranchise voters overseas who will not receive ballots in time or voters who need to vote early or by absentee ballot, Smith said.
—Madeline King, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2025
While Democrats often struggle to articulate a unified, compelling message, Trump’s simplicity proves consistently powerful, especially among working-class voters feeling disenfranchised by traditional political messaging.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 7 July 2025
Sinners is both a triumphant bellow and a Blues song about the American South for and by those who built it, and were simultaneously disenfranchised in it.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 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 26 Jul. 2025.
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disenfranchise
verb
Legal Definition
disenfranchise
transitive verb
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