Francophone

[frang-kuh-fohn]

adjective

1. Also Francophonic speaking French, especially as a member of a French-speaking population.

noun

1. a person who speaks French, especially a native speaker.

Francophone

/ ˈfræŋkəʊˌfəʊn /

noun

1. a person who speaks French, esp a native speaker

adjective

1. speaking French as a native language

2. using French as a lingua franca

Word History and Origins

Origin of Francophone¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; Franco- + -phone

Example Sentences

Popular in Francophone countries, Nothomb’s book includes introspective passages with literary descriptions of the author’s feelings at that young age.

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The US-trained economist has dominated political life since, even as other countries in francophone Africa have been rocked by coups.

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This reshuffling of the power structure was presented abroad by regime mouthpieces as moving from a strong presidential system to a supposedly more democratic "parliamentary" model – in tune with the traditions of the Commonwealth, which Togo, like Gabon, had joined in 2022, to broaden its international connections and reduce reliance on traditional francophone links with France, the former colonial ruler.

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The following day, social media users outside Francophone West Africa pounced on the misinformation and pushed it out to an English-speaking audience in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, encouraging other social media users to follow suit.

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In late 2016, peaceful protests started against what was perceived to be the creeping use of the francophone legal system in the region's courtrooms.

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