# franchise

Pronunciation: US say "FRAN-chyz" /ˈfɹænt͡ʃaɪ̯z/; UK

## Noun

1. A business that operates under authorization from a larger company to sell its goods or services.
   - Simple: A business that runs under a deal letting it use a bigger company's name and products.
   - _Each franchise pays a monthly fee to the parent company._
   - _The fast-food franchise on the corner is locally owned but nationally branded._
2. Permission granted by a company to sell or distribute its goods or services within a particular area.
   - Simple: Official permission from a company to sell its products in a certain place.
   - _The company sold the regional franchise to a local investor._
   - _Her franchise covers three counties in the northern part of the state._
3. A loose collection of fictional works (books, films, and television series) set in the same fictional universe and authorized by a single copyright holder.
   - Simple: A group of movies, books, and shows that all belong to the same made-up world.
   - _The studio expanded the superhero franchise with two spin-off series._
   - _A new game extended the franchise into interactive territory._
4. The right to vote in a public election or referendum.
   - Simple: The right to vote in a public election.
   - _The reform extended the franchise to all adult citizens._
   - _Property requirements once limited the franchise to wealthy landowners._
5. A right or privilege that a government formally grants to a person, a group, or a company.
   - Simple: A special right or permission given to someone by a government.
   - _The utility holds a government franchise to supply water to the region._
   - _Parliament granted the merchants a franchise to trade in the colony._
7. A sports team considered as a continuing entity, including the whole history and tradition of its organization beyond its current form.
   - Simple: A sports team seen as one ongoing group, including all its past versions.
   - _The franchise has reached the playoffs in twelve of the last fifteen seasons._
   - _Despite relocating twice, the franchise still honors records set in its original city._
8. The positive influence a company's or brand's reputation has on customers' buying decisions.
   - Simple: The good name of a brand that makes people want to buy from it.
   - _Years of reliable service gave the brand a loyal franchise among older buyers._
   - _Marketers measured how much franchise the logo retained after the redesign._
10. Membership of a state or corporation; citizenship.
   - Simple: Being an official member of a country or group, also known as citizenship.
   - _Franchise in the medieval town brought both duties and protections._
   - _Merchants from abroad could not trade in the city until they had purchased its franchise and sworn loyalty to the council._
11. A legal exemption that places someone outside a particular court's jurisdiction.
   - Simple: A legal right that frees someone from a court's power.
   - _The monastery's ancient franchise exempted it from the royal courts._
   - _Merchants invoked their franchise to avoid the town's jurisdiction._
12. The district or area within which a particular privilege or immunity applies; hence, a place of asylum or sanctuary.
   - Simple: The area where a special right applies, or a safe place of refuge.
   - _Fugitives once sought protection within the franchise of the cathedral._
   - _The franchise of the palace extended several streets in every direction._
13. Freedom or liberty; exemption from constraint or oppression.
   - Simple: Freedom from being controlled or treated unfairly.
   - _The charter promised the townsfolk franchise from feudal burdens._
   - _They fought for the franchise to live without a lord's interference._
14. Official acknowledgment of a corporation's existence and of its ownership.
   - Simple: Official recognition that a company exists and of who owns it.
   - _The legislature's franchise confirmed that the corporation existed in law and that its shareholders owned it._
   - _Without that franchise, the company had no recognized standing._

## Verb

6. To grant others the right to sell or distribute your goods or services.
   - Simple: To let other people sell your products using your company's name.
   - _The company chose to franchise its coffee shops rather than own them all._
   - _To grow quickly, the founders decided to franchise the business nationwide._
9. To grant a person or body certain powers, rights, or authorization.
   - Simple: To officially give someone special powers or rights.
   - _The new constitution franchised the provinces to levy their own taxes._
   - _Lawmakers voted to franchise the agency with broad regulatory powers._

## Verb

15. To set free, or to invest someone with a franchise or privilege; to enfranchise. *(rare)*
   - Simple: To set someone free, or to give them a right or privilege.
   - _The act sought to franchise all who had long been denied a voice._
   - _The lord chose to franchise his bondsmen, granting them their liberty._

## Noun

16. Magnanimity; generosity of spirit and nobility of character. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A noble, generous nature.
   - _The old lord treated his enemies with a franchise that surprised the court._
   - _Tales praised the hero's franchise as much as his courage in battle._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–5, 7–8, 10–14, 16** — From Middle English franchise, from Old French franchise ("freedom"), which was formed from franc ("free"). Related to frank.
**Meanings 6, 9, 15** — From Middle English franchisen, from Old French franchir (stem franchiss-, "to set free"), from franc ("free"). Related to frank.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/franchise (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).