franchise
/ˈfɹænt͡ʃaɪ̯z/noun, verb
franchise is spelled F-R-A-N-C-H-I-S-E: 9 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 19 times per million words in written English, the 4,365th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, franchise means “The right to vote at a public election or referendum; see: suffrage” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of franchise is franchises.
How many letters and syllables are in franchise?
| Letters | 9: F-R-A-N-C-H-I-S-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 19 times per million words; the 4,365th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is franchise?
Franchise appears 19 times per million words in written English, the 4,365th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce franchise?
- /ˈfɹænt͡ʃaɪ̯z/
- /ˈfɹænt͡ʃɪz/
Franchise has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-franchise.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of franchise
- franchises plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- franchising participle, present
- franchised participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does franchise mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The right to vote at a public election or referendum; see: suffrage.
- 2
A right or privilege officially granted to a person, a group of people, or a company by a government.
a. 1872, William H. Seward, debate Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning franchise of the American people.
- 3
An acknowledgment of a corporation's existence and ownership.
- 4
The authorization granted by a company to sell or distribute its goods or services in a certain area.
McDonald’s has exported its franchise.
- 5
A business operating under such authorization, a franchisee.
- 6
A legal exemption from jurisdiction.
- 7
The membership of a corporation or state; citizenship.
- 8
The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary.
verb
- 1
To confer certain powers on; grant a franchise to; authorize.
- 2
rareTo set free; invest with a franchise or privilege; enfranchise.
- 3
To give to others the rights to sell or distribute (goods or services).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Franchise in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | concession , franchise , droit de vote |
| German | Konzession, behördliche Genehmigung , Franchise , Wahlrecht |
| Portuguese | concessão , franquia, franchising , franchise , franquiar |
| Spanish | franquicia , derecho a/de sufragio, derecho de voto, sufragio activo , franquiciar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does franchise come from?
From Middle English franchise, fraunchise, from Old French franchise (“freedom”), a derivative of franc (“free”). More at frank.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).