disenfranchisement

American  

[dis-en-fran-chahyz-muhnt, -chiz-] / ˌdɪs ɛnˈfræn tʃaɪz mənt, -tʃɪz- /

noun

1. the act of depriving a person of the rights or privileges of a citizen, especially the right to vote.

   Opponents claim that these changes to the voting registration laws will result in massive voter disenfranchisement, especially among minorities, seniors, and youth.

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

   The disenfranchisement of women at the household level, with male control over household funds, has contributed to the devaluation of women's labor.

3. the act of depriving a person of a legal or commercial franchise.

   Persistent violations of the contract will result in the disenfranchisement of the franchisee.

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Etymology

Origin of disenfranchisement

First recorded in 1715–25; disenfranchise ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )

Example Sentences

To prevent disenfranchisement, many states enacted laws that permitted soldiers to vote under the supervision of commanding officers, who would then transmit ballots to election officials back home.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2026

Alliance Party assembly member Sian Mulholland said the "disenfranchisement of our society's young people" has been a "major democratic deficit".

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2025

“I think there’s a lot of negative polarization at play — an expression of defeatism or disenfranchisement at the fact that status quo politicians aren’t addressing young men’s problems.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2025

Next you deal with felon disenfranchisement in a 1974 case, Richardson v.

From Salon • May 11, 2024

How could an American Negro observe the annihilation happening in Europe without identifying it with their own four-century struggle against deprivation, disenfranchisement, slavery, and violence?

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly