frank

verb

franked; franking; franks

transitive verb

1

a

: to mark (a piece of mail) with an official signature or sign indicating the right of the sender to free mailing

b

: to mail free

c

: to affix to (mail) a stamp or a marking indicating the payment of postage

2

: to enable to pass or go freely or easily

frankable

ˈfraŋ-kə-bəl 

adjective

franker noun

Did you know?

The word frank comes from the name of the Franks, a West Germanic people who lived long ago. In the early Middle Ages the Franks were in power in France. (It was from them that the country got its name, in Latin Francia.) The Franks eventually merged with the earlier Gaulish and Roman inhabitants, and their name (Francus in Latin) lost its ethnic sense and referred to any inhabitant of Francia who was free, that is, not a slave or bondman. As an adjective, francus came to mean simply “free.” From the English adjective frank, which means “free” or “forthright,” we get the verb frank, which means “to mark mail with an official sign so that it may be mailed free.”

Examples of frank in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Plus, while a bipartisan House group reviews and approves materials, the rules on franking allow representatives to disseminate political critiques and messages that can sometimes appear like campaign ads. —Brittany Carloni, IndyStar, 11 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing frank

• be honest/frank

Rhymes for frank

• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• crank
• dank
• drank
• flank
• franc
• hank
• lank
• plank

Kids Definition

frank

1 of 2 adjective

ˈfraŋk

: free in speaking one's feelings and opinions

frankness noun

Frank

2 of 2 noun

ˈfraŋk 

: a member of a Germanic people living in ancient Gaul

Frankish

ˈfraŋ-kish

adjective

Medical Definition

frank

adjective

ˈfraŋk 

: clinically evident

frank pus

frank gout