disenfranchise

[ dis-en-fran-chahyz ]
See synonyms for: disenfranchisedisenfranchised on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),dis·en·fran·chised, dis·en·fran·chis·ing.
  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.

  1. to deprive of a commercial or legal franchise: There’s been talk of disenfranchising the cricket team for violation of the league’s bylaws.

Origin of disenfranchise

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

Other words from disenfranchise

  • dis·en·fran·chise·ment [dis-en-fran-chahyz-muhnt, -chiz-], /ˌdɪs ɛnˈfræn tʃaɪz mənt, -tʃɪz-/, noun
  • dis·en·fran·chis·er, noun

Words Nearby disenfranchise

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use disenfranchise in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for disenfranchise

disenfranchise

disfranchise

/ (ˌdɪsɪnˈfræntʃaɪz) /


verb(tr)
  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

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

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

Derived forms of disenfranchise

  • disenfranchisement (ˌdɪsɪnˈfræntʃɪzmənt) or disfranchisement, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012