Aretha 1942–2018, U.S. singer.
Benjamin, 1706–90, American statesman, diplomat, author, scientist, and inventor.
Sir John, 1786–1847, English Arctic explorer.
John Hope, 1915–2009, U.S. historian and educator.
a district in extreme N Canada, in the Northwest Territories, including the Boothia and Melville peninsulas, Baffin Island, and other Arctic islands. 549,253 sq. mi. (1,422,565 sq. km).
a town in S Massachusetts.
a city in SE Wisconsin.
a town in central Tennessee.
a town in central Indiana.
a town in SW Ohio.
a male given name: from a Germanic word meaning “freeholder.”
Aretha (əˈriːθə) born 1942, US soul, pop, and gospel singer; noted for her songs "Respect" (1967), "I Say a Little Prayer" (1968), and, with George Michael, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987)
Benjamin 1706–90, American statesman, scientist, and author. He helped draw up the Declaration of Independence (1776) and, as ambassador to France (1776–85), he negotiated an alliance with France and a peace settlement with Britain. As a scientist, he is noted particularly for his researches in electricity, esp his invention of the lightning conductor
Sir John . 1786–1847, English explorer of the Arctic: lieutenant-governor of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) (1836–43): died while on a voyage to discover the Northwest Passage
Rosalind . 1920–58, British x-ray crystallographer. She contributed to the discovery of the structure of DNA, before her premature death from cancer
1250–1300; Middle English fra ( u ) nkelin < Anglo-French fraunclein, equivalent to fraunc free, frank 1 + -lein -ling 1; formed on the model of Old French chamberlain chamberlain
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Who the heck cares that you live in oakland ho ho kus or franklin lakes!!!
From New York Times ● Mar. 19, 2010
With reporting by Eric Ferkenhoff Shirley Franklin / Atlanta Restorer of Faith Shirley franklin isn't standard mayor material.
From Time Magazine Archive
Restorer of Faith Shirley franklin isn't standard mayor material.
From Time Magazine Archive
And I told him that there I had not been, but at least knew of one substantial franklin, for my playfellow, Turkil, had been the son of such an one, as I was told.
From A Thane of Wessex by Whistler, Charles W. (Charles Watts)
The franklin looked sourly on him and said: "Good man, thou knowest much of her, meseemeth—Whence art thou?"
From The Well at the World's End: a tale by Morris, William
Franklin completed the demolition of the original structure and began building a custom property that was completed in 2006.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Franklin created the beloved sitcom in 1987 and served as a showrunner until 1992.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Play LA 7v7 Flag Football Tournament Championship Game Final LB Poly 7 Franklin 6 Franklin scored on last play of game, went for 2 and the win came up short.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
Charles Franklin and Janette Edwards, retirees from California, swore off Greece in the height of summer after a particularly sweltering, crowded trip to Athens a few years ago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
The whereabouts of Franklin and his men would become one of the world’s greatest mysteries, inspiring scores of books, poems, and ballads.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
The franklins in the neighborhood were all hostile to Sir Rudolph, whom they regarded as a cruel tyrant, and did their utmost in the way of supplies for those in the forest.
From The Boy Knight by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
As it was, she had a real affection for the antiquated place, with its curiously-carved door-knocker, its oaken staircase, and broad chimneys with their heavy franklins.
From The Sea-Witch Or, the African Quadroon : a Story of the Slave Coast by Ballou, Maturin Murray
Let boors and franklins say it, I'll swear it.
From The Winter's Tale by Shakespeare, William
Bela now assembled the nobles and franklins of Hungary, and, supported by them, demanded the restoration of the ancient constitution.
From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 06 (From Barbarossa to Dante) by Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis)
The summons were generally obeyed: the franklins swore allegiance to the new King and gave the required hostages.
From Canute the Great The Rise of Danish Imperialism during the Viking Age by Larson, Laurence Marcellus
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
