'Franchise' definitions:
Definition of 'franchise'
From: WordNet
noun
An authorization to sell a company's goods or services in a particular place
noun
A business established or operated under an authorization to sell or distribute a company's goods or services in a particular area [syn: franchise, dealership]
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) [syn: franchise, enfranchisement]
verb
Grant a franchise to
Definition of 'Franchise'
From: GCIDE
- Franchise \Fran"chise\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Franchised; p. pr. & vb. n. Franchising.] [Cf. OF. franchir to free, F., to cross.] To make free; to enfranchise; to give liberty to. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Franchise'
From: GCIDE
- Franchise \Fran"chise\ (? or ?; 277), n. [F., fr. franc, fem. franche, free. See Frank, a.]
- 1. Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (LAw) A particular privilege conferred by grant from a sovereign or a government, and vested in individuals; an immunity or exemption from ordinary jurisdiction; a constitutional or statutory right or privilege, esp. the right to vote. [1913 Webster]
- Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning franchise of the American people. --W. H. Seward. [1913 Webster]
- 3. The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary. [1913 Webster]
- Churches and mobasteries in Spain are franchises for criminals. --London Encyc. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility. "Franchise in woman." [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- Elective franchise, the privilege or right of voting in an election of public officers. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'franchise'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- affranchise,
- Australian ballot,
- authorize,
- aye,
- ballot,
- blank check,
- brevet,
- canvass,
- canvassing,
- carte blanche,
- casting vote,
- certificate,
- certify,
- charter,
- concession,
- copyright,
- counting heads,
- cumulative voting,
- deciding vote,
- diploma,
- diplomatic immunity,
- discharge,
- dispensation,
- division,
- empower,
- enable,
- enfranchise,
- enfranchisement,
- entitle,
- exception,
- exemption,
- fagot vote,
- favor,
- female suffrage,
- freedom,
- give official sanction,
- give power,
- grant,
- graveyard vote,
- hand vote,
- Hare system,
- household franchise,
- immunity,
- indulgence,
- legalize,
- legislative immunity,
- legitimize,
- letters patent,
- liberty,
- license,
- list system,
- manhood suffrage,
- nay,
- no,
- nontransferable vote,
- patent,
- permission,
- plebiscite,
- plebiscitum,
- plumper,
- plural vote,
- poll,
- polling,
- preferential voting,
- privilege,
- proportional representation,
- proxy,
- ratify,
- record vote,
- referendum,
- release,
- representation,
- right to vote,
- rising vote,
- royal grant,
- sanction,
- say,
- secret ballot,
- show of hands,
- single vote,
- snap vote,
- special favor,
- straw vote,
- suffrage,
- suffragette,
- suffragettism,
- suffragism,
- suffragist,
- the vote,
- transferable vote,
- universal suffrage,
- validate,
- viva voce,
- voice,
- voice vote,
- vote,
- voting,
- voting right,
- warrant,
- woman-suffragist,
- write-in,
- write-in vote,
- yea,
- yeas and nays,
- yes