franchise

1 of 2

noun

fran·chise ˈfran-ˌchīz

plural franchises

Synonyms of franchise next

a(1)

: the right or license granted to an individual or group to market a company's goods or services in a particular territory

also : a business granted such a right or license

just opened a new fast-food franchise down the street

(2)

: the territory involved in such a right

: a constitutional or statutory right or privilege

especially : the right to vote

: a special privilege granted to an individual or group

especially : the right to be and exercise the powers of a corporation

: the right of membership in a professional sports league

: a team and its operating organization having such membership

He's the best player in the history of the franchise.

: a series of related works (such as novels or films) each of which includes the same characters or different characters that are understood to exist and interact in the same fictional universe with characters from the other works

The main reason we all keep going back to the "Mission: Impossible" franchise is the stunts, of course. Watching Ethan Hunt as he scales mountains, jumps onto planes and dangles from skyscrapers fills us with eye-rolling delight.—

Randy Myers

Rowling's seven Harry Potter novels sold more than 500 million copies. Its respective film franchise drummed up over $7 billion at the box office.—

Dory Jackson

: freedom or immunity from some burden or restriction vested in a person or group

franchise

2 of 2

verb

franchised; franchising

transitive verb

: to grant a franchise to

archaic : free

Did you know?

Franchise was voted into early 14th-century English as both a noun and verb. It is from the Anglo-French verb franchir, meaning "to free," itself from franc, "free." To be perfectly frank, the word franchise is most often encountered today with reference to restaurant chains or professional sports teams (e.g., "a franchise quarterback"), not to mention branded retail stores and sequel-driven movies and novels. These commercial meanings are far from the original meaning of the word in English: "freedom or immunity from some burden or restriction vested in a person or group." This meaning evolved into the "right to vote" sense of the word.

Examples of franchise in a Sentence

Noun She was granted an exclusive franchise in the city's west end. They just opened a new fast-food franchise down the street. The U.S. did not extend the franchise to women until the early 20th century. He's the best player in the history of the franchise.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

That’s led some franchise owners to move to drive-through and counter service, with no sit-down options. —

Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024 This decrease is due to lower programming and franchise costs. —

Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024

Verb

Franchising has been key to its growth since 99 of its locations are franchised with 1 company-owned. —

Gary Stern, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Walker said the company runs or franchises 88 restaurants in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, but Frisch’s website listed only 79 locations at the time. —

Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for franchise

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from franchir to free, from franc free — more at frank

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of franchise was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Franchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/franchise. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

franchise

noun

fran·chise

ˈfran-ˌchīz

: the right to vote

: the right to sell a company's goods or services in a particular territory

Legal Definition

franchise

noun

fran·chise ˈfran-ˌchīz

: a special right or privilege granted by the government to an individual, group, or business entity: as

: a right to conduct a business and especially to be and to exercise the powers of a corporation

: a right granted to a public utility company to provide services and to use public land for that purpose

: a constitutional or statutory right

especially : the right to vote

—used with the

restricting them in employment, education, the franchise, legal personality, and public accommodation —

W. H. Burns

: a right or license that is granted to an individual or group to market a company's goods or services in a particular territory under the company's trademark, trade name, or service mark and that often involves the use of rules and procedures designed by the company and services (as advertising) and facilities provided by the company in return for fees, royalties, or other compensation

also : a business granted such a right or license

ran a fast-food franchise

: an amount of liability (as a percentage or sum) specified in an insurance contract below which an insurer disclaims liability and above which the insurer assumes total liability compare deductible

: group insurance covering fewer than the minimum number of participants required by law for such coverage

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, literally, freedom, liberty, from Middle French, from franchir to free, from Old French franc free

Last Updated: 16 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

paroxysm

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

franchise

noun

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Examples of franchise in a Sentence

Word History

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near franchise

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition