enfranchise

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɪnˈfræntʃaɪz/ UK /ɪnˈfræntʃaɪz/ See IPA manual

Freq #174945

Meanings

1

verb
to give a person or group the legal right to vote

The reform would enfranchise citizens who had previously been excluded from elections.
2

verb
historical or formal: to free someone from slavery, legal dependence, or another restriction

The decree enfranchised the remaining serfs and recognized them as free citizens.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to give a person or group... give the vote togrant suffrage toempower

2 verb · historical or formal: to... emancipate liberate free

Opposites

disenfranchise exclude enslave

Word family

Forms enfranchised

Derived forms enfranchisementenfranchiserenfranchisable

Related forms franchise suffrage emancipationcivil rights

Simplified etymology

Enfranchise entered English in late Middle English from French enfranchir, based on franc, “free.” Its history is therefore connected with frank and franchise, both derived from the same French source.

Etymology

From Old French enfranchir, formed from en- (expressing a change of state) + franc, franche, 'free.' It first meant setting a person free or granting civic privileges; as franchise narrowed to the electoral right, enfranchise became especially associated with granting the vote.

Topics

Actions & Processes Register & Style

External links

# enfranchise

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈfræntʃaɪz/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈfræntʃaɪz/
**Frequency rank:** 174945

## Meanings
1. to give a person or group the legal right to vote
2. historical or formal: to free someone from slavery, legal dependence, or another restriction

## Examples
- The reform would enfranchise citizens who had previously been excluded from elections.
- The decree enfranchised the remaining serfs and recognized them as free citizens.

## Synonyms
- give the vote to
- grant suffrage to
- empower
- emancipate
- liberate

## Antonyms
- disenfranchise
- exclude
- enslave

## Derived Forms
- enfranchisement
- enfranchiser
- enfranchisable

## Related Forms
- franchise
- suffrage
- emancipation
- civil rights

## Etymology
From Old French enfranchir, formed from en- (expressing a change of state) + franc, franche, 'free.' It first meant setting a person free or granting civic privileges; as franchise narrowed to the electoral right, enfranchise became especially associated with granting the vote.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Register & Style

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