WordValeenfranchise
to grant someone the right to vote
In more detail
1. (verb) to give someone the right to vote
2. (verb) to give someone rights or freedoms, especially legal or political rights
Examples
- 1. Women were enfranchised in many countries during the early 20th century.
- 2. The new law enfranchised previously marginalized communities.
How to use enfranchise
Enfranchise is a formal, somewhat historical term used to describe the granting of voting rights or broader legal rights to previously excluded groups. It often appears in discussions of political history, social reform, and democratic expansion. The word carries a sense of significant empowerment rather than minor concessions.
Common phrases
- enfranchise women
- enfranchise citizens
- enfranchise a population
- enfranchise formerly excluded groups
- newly enfranchised voters
Synonyms
empower · liberate · grant rights to · give the vote to · enfranchisement
Opposites
disenfranchise · deprive · suppress
Word family
enfranchisement (noun) · enfranchised (adjective) · disenfranchise (verb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse enfranchise with franchise (which refers to a business license or the right to operate a business), though the words share etymology. Also, some incorrectly use it as a synonym for simple empowerment without the specifically legal or political dimension.
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