noun
Common
franchise
FRANT-shyz
Franchise (noun) means a business that is authorized to sell a company's goods or services in a particular area, operating under its brand. Example: “He saved for years to buy a bakery franchise in his home town.”
noun
1
A business that is authorized to sell a company's goods or services in a particular area, operating under its brand.
"He saved for years to buy a bakery franchise in his home town."
"Owners of a franchise must follow the parent company's rules on menus and uniforms."
"She opened a fast-food franchise on the edge of town."
2
An official right or privilege granted by a government, especially the right to vote.
"Women in many countries fought long campaigns to win the franchise."
"The new law widened the franchise to include younger citizens."
"The reform extended the franchise to all adults over eighteen."
3
A series of related films, games, or other media built around the same characters or world.
"The fantasy franchise began with one novel and grew into games and cartoons."
"Children collect toys from the franchise, and my niece owns every one."
"The superhero franchise has released over twenty films."
verb
1
To grant someone the right to sell one's goods or services under one's brand.
"The owner decided to franchise her cafe so others could open branches."
"Many restaurants franchise their name to local entrepreneurs who then run each branch."
"The coffee chain began franchising its stores in the 1990s."
How to use franchise
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA licensed branch of a business (like a fast-food chain), the right to vote, or a long-running series of films or games.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
franchise owner
the right to franchise
movie franchise
extend the franchise
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Word forms
- Plural
- franchises
- Third person singular
- franchises
- Past tense
- franchised
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He saved for years to buy a bakery _____ in his home town.
Etymology
From Old French franchise ("freedom"), from franc ("free") — related to "frank."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for franchise
See all rhymes for franchise →Frequently asked questions
What does “franchise” mean?
The word “franchise” means a business that is authorized to sell a company's goods or services in a particular area, operating under its brand. In plain terms, a licensed branch of a business (like a fast-food chain), the right to vote, or a long-running series of films or games.
How do you pronounce “franchise”?
“Franchise” is pronounced FRANT-shyz (/ˈfɹænt͡ʃaɪ̯z/ in IPA).
How do you use “franchise” in a sentence?
Here is “franchise” used in a sentence: “She opened a fast-food franchise on the edge of town.”
What part of speech is “franchise”?
Depending on how it is used, “franchise” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “franchise” come from?
The word “franchise” comes from Old French. From Old French franchise ("freedom"), from franc ("free") — related to "frank.".
Is “franchise” a common word?
“Franchise” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “franchise” have?
“Franchise” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a business that is authorized to sell a company's goods or services in a particular area, operating under its brand.
What is the difference between a 'franchise' and a 'branch'?
A 'franchise' is an independently owned business licensed to trade under a larger company's brand, while a 'branch' is directly owned and run by the parent company. Franchise owners pay fees to use the brand, whereas branches are company property.
Why does 'franchise' also mean the right to vote?
'Franchise' can mean an official right or privilege granted by a government, and the right to vote is its best-known example. This sense appears in phrases like 'universal franchise' and 'extending the franchise.'
What is the difference between a 'franchise', a 'franchisee', and a 'franchisor'?
The 'franchise' is the licensed business or the right itself, the 'franchisee' is the person or company that buys and runs it, and the 'franchisor' is the parent company granting the licence. All three terms come from the same commercial arrangement.
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