disenfranchise

American  

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

verb (used with object)

disenfranchised, disenfranchising

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  

/ ˌdɪsɪnˈfræntʃɪzmənt, 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

• disenfranchisement noun
• disenfranchiser noun

Etymology

Origin of disenfranchise

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

Example Sentences

"And those ones are immigrants and the disenfranchised, essentially."

From BBC

And lots of other audiences who feel disenfranchised would like to be reassured that their virtues are just that.

From The Wall Street Journal

Shortly after the court announcement, Crockett took to the stage at her election party and said that voters in her city of Dallas were being disenfranchised.

From BBC

In our alleged golden age of TV, comedy has been Cordelia, the disenfranchised child of a grim medium.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From BBC