frank
Noun pluralfranks
Pluralfranks
Formsfranks, franking, franked
- 1Honest and direct, often in a way that seems a bit blunt.
To be frank, I didn't like the movie very much.
My doctor was frank with me about how much exercise I need.
UsageSay be frank with someone. To be frank comes before an honest, blunt opinion.
Similarunreserved
- 2A hot dog or a sausage.
We grilled franks and corn at the beach.
He ate a frank with mustard at the ball game.
UsageOften in franks and beans.
Similarfrankfurter
Note
- 3To mark a letter to show the postage is paid, so it needs no stamp.
The office machine can frank two hundred letters an hour.
She franked the envelopes and dropped them in the mailbag.
Note
- 4A mark on a letter showing that the postage is paid or that no stamp is needed.
The letter from the bank had a red frank instead of a stamp.
The frank on this envelope shows that the company paid for the postage.
- 5Very clear and easy for a doctor to see.
The nurse saw frank blood in the patient's urine.
The test showed frank blood in his urine.
UsageUsed before a noun, as in frank blood. It does not mean honest here.
Similarovert, obvious, manifest, unmistakable
Oppositeoccult, subclinical
Note
- 6The right some officials have to send mail without paying postage.
Members of Congress use the frank to send letters to voters.
The new rules limit how often officials can use the frank before an election.
UsageSay the frank: letters sent under the frank.
Note
- 7To send something by a public service, like the mail, for free.
Members of Congress can frank letters to the people they represent.
The lawmaker's office franked a newsletter to every home in the district.
- 8
- 9To keep an animal shut in a pen, or to feed it a lot to make it fat.
Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid; He is franked up to fatting for his pains
c. 1593, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third:”Here, franked up means shut in a pen to be fattened, like an animal.Note
- 10Free, with no rules or limits on it.
It is of frank gift.
1591, “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie.Here, frank means free, given with no limits or conditions.Note
- 11Generous and happy to give a lot.
Frank of Civilities that cost them nothing.
1692, Roger L’Estrange, FablesHere, frank means generous, giving freely.Note
- 12Wild and without any moral limits.
Over the fields, in his franke lustinesse, And all the champain o're he soared light.
1591, “Muiopotmos, or The Fate of the Butterflie”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie.Here, franke means loose and unrestrained.Note
- 13The gray heron, a kind of bird.
Showing meanings only.
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Origins
It comes from an Old French word meaning “free”, which came from the name of the Franks, an early Germanic people.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- English frank derives from an Old French word meaning free. en.wiktionary.org
- That Old French word derives ultimately from the name of the Franks. en.wiktionary.org
- The Franks were an early Germanic people. en.wiktionary.org
It is a short form of frankfurter.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact
- Frank is a short form of frankfurter. en.wiktionary.org
It comes from the Old French word franc.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact
- The word frank comes from Old French franc. en.wiktionary.org