1
as in emancipation
the act of setting free from slavery
the Emancipation Proclamation was merely the first step in the full enfranchisement of African-Americans
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Recent Examples of enfranchisement
The years leading up to the creation of the Freedman’s Memorial saw the full enfranchisement of Black men—and then the dimming of this vision.
—
Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Many claim that with the abolition of slavery and the enfranchisement of women, and many other new laws like civil rights legislation and changing gender norms, there has been great progress.
—Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
In theory, this transition inaugurates a chapter of enfranchisement, but in the next scene the Senegalese businessmen are in suits, and the white men return with briefcases full of money as bribes.
—Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025
Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Many claim that with the abolition of slavery and the enfranchisement of women, and many other new laws like civil rights legislation and changing gender norms, there has been great progress.
—Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
In theory, this transition inaugurates a chapter of enfranchisement, but in the next scene the Senegalese businessmen are in suits, and the white men return with briefcases full of money as bribes.
—Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enfranchisement
Noun
-
The holiday itself goes back to 1865, when word of emancipation finally reached Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
14 May 2026
-
Almost all the land was in the hands of oligarchic families or in the hands of mosques, the mosque endowments, and at the emancipation of women, giving women the right to vote.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The first wave of women’s-rights activists won suffrage for women, against ferocious and sometimes violent opposition.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
Finally, a third report authored by John Commons and wealthy suffrage activist Florence Harriman argued—correctly—that Manly’s group wanted unions to be engaged in mass politics rather than just workplace negotiations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
That’s because the direct liberation of CO2 from limestone is eliminated and because the whole process can run on electricity.—
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
-
After the liberation of Auschwitz, Levi naturally went back to his old home.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enfranchisement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfranchisement. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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