franchise

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a statutory right or privilege granted to a person or group by a government, especially the rights of citizenship and the right to vote.

   It's important to exercise your franchise by voting in the election.

2. 2
   noun

   A right or privilege officially granted to a person, a group of people, or a company by a government.

   a. 1872, William H. Seward, debate Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning franchise of the American people.

3. 3
   noun

   The authorization granted by a company to sell or distribute its goods or services in a certain area.

   McDonald’s has exported its franchise.

4. 4
   noun

   The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary.

   Churches and monasteries in Spain are franchises for criminals.

5. 5
   noun

   The collection of organizations in the history of a sports team; the tradition of a sports team as an entity, extending beyond the contemporary organization.

   The Whalers' home city of Hartford was one of many for the franchise.

6. 6
   noun

   The positive influence on the buying behavior of customers exerted by the reputation of a company or a brand.

   Once a brand has established a consumer franchise and a brand image, it takes a long time for these to decay, as the image is maintained more by people's personal familiarity with and usage of the brand than by external marketing stimuli.

7. 7
   noun

   The loose collection of fictional works pertaining to a particular fictional universe, including literary, film, or television series from various sources, generally when all authorized by a copyright holder or similar authority.

   the Star Wars franchise

8. 8
   noun

   Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty.

   Ye[…]the love of ladies foule defame; To whom the world this franchise ever yeelded, That of their loves choise they might freedom clame.

Etymology

From Middle English franchisen, fraunchisen, from Old French franchir (stem franchiss-, “to set free”), from franc (“free”). More at frank.