disenfranchise

American  

[dis-en-fran-chahyz] / ˌdɪs ɛnˈfræn tʃaɪz /

verb (used with object)

• disenfranchises,
  present (3rd person singular)
• disenfranchised,
  past participle,  past
• disenfranchising
  present participle

1. to deprive (a person) of a right or privilege of citizenship, especially the right to vote.

   This electoral law disenfranchises people in prison and on parole, but allows those on probation to vote.

2. to deprive of the rights or privileges of full participation in society or in any community or organization, especially of the opportunity to influence policy or make one’s voice heard.

   We are intentionally seeking to engage all employees in these discussions so as not to disenfranchise any social minority.

3. to deprive of a commercial or legal franchise.

   There’s been talk of disenfranchising the cricket team for violation of the league’s bylaws.

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disenfranchise British  

/ ˌdɪsɪnˈfræntʃaɪz /

verb

1. to deprive (a person) of the right to vote or other rights of citizenship

2. to deprive (a place) of the right to send representatives to an elected body

3. to deprive (a business concern, etc) of some privilege or right

4. to deprive (a person, place, etc) of any franchise or right

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• disenfranchisement
  noun
• disenfranchiser
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• disenfranchising
  present
• disenfranchised
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• disenfranchise
  simple
• disenfranchises
  simple
• have disenfranchised
  perfect
• has disenfranchised
  perfect
• am disenfranchising
  progressive
• are disenfranchising
  progressive
• is disenfranchising
  progressive
• have been disenfranchising
  perfect progressive
• has been disenfranchising
  perfect progressive

Past

• disenfranchised
  simple
• had disenfranchised
  perfect
• was disenfranchising
  progressive
• were disenfranchising
  progressive
• had been disenfranchising
  perfect progressive

Future

• will disenfranchise
  simple
• will have disenfranchised
  perfect
• will be disenfranchising
  progressive
• will have been disenfranchising
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of disenfranchise

First recorded in 1620–30; dis- ¹ + enfranchise

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Explanation

Enfranchise means to give someone the right to vote. Disenfranchise means to take it away. The U.S. has a shameful history of disenfranchising African-American citizens through bogus laws and outright intimidation. Being disenfranchised can make you feel like you don't belong or that you have no power. When kids feel disenfranchised in school––when they feel like what they're being asked to learn doesn't matter, or that their teachers don't care about them, that whether they try or not they're going to fail––they stop learning.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

disenfranchise disenfranchises disenfranchised disenfranchising

For Gates and for Bennett, the worry is that unnecessary restrictions on voting by mail would effectively disenfranchise people.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

In her interview, Raman spoke about how the city’s housing policies disenfranchise Black residents, Swain said, and pledged to change zoning laws to expand affordable housing across the city.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

That’s the way to stick it to people who want to disenfranchise you: to actually vote.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

Opposition MPs have criticised the delay, saying it would potentially disenfranchise millions of voters.

From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026

The whole thing is gone, and for my part I wish they'd disenfranchise the borough.

From Phineas Finn The Irish Member by Anthony Trollope

Yates, from Crackington Haven, said she wanted the bank to "reconsider their policy" as she believed it "disenfranchises the rural population".

From BBC ● May 14, 2026

This disenfranchises those who have paid for their crime.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 29, 2023

Hobbs said he opposed the practice because “it disenfranchises communities and leaves us vulnerable to misinformation,” but that he would honor voters’ decision if they were to choose ranked choice voting in the future.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 23, 2022

Raman and Krekorian have sharply criticized the map, saying it disenfranchises voters and needs to be reworked.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2021

No other country in the world disenfranchises people who are released from prison in a manner even remotely resembling the United States.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

"We need to make sure that their right is not disenfranchised as well," he said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

Foundation to ‘bring hope and strength to young adults ages 14-24 in underserved and disenfranchised communities.’

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

Director Sue Davison, a specialist teacher with 30 years' experience in schools, said the rise of toxic masculinity among social media influencers had a serious impact on "disenfranchised boys".

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

Certain voters, members of communities that have been disenfranchised before, may now be less confident that their vote will count.

From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026

She demanded that Greeley consider how he would feel if he were disenfranchised.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

States already ensure the vote is safe without disenfranchising vulnerable groups.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2025

Some voters confronted school staff and accused them of disenfranchising voters.

From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2024

It was not disenfranchising them, which is generous.

From Slate ● Feb. 5, 2024

"In the last fifty years, a national consensus has emerged among the state legislatures against permanently disenfranchising those who have satisfied their judicially imposed sentences and thus repaid their debts to society," he wrote.

From Reuters ● Aug. 4, 2023

Perhaps he might be able to undertake this Great Widgerly disenfranchising case.

From Philistia by Grant Allen

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