noun
Common
Franklin
FRANGK-lihn
Franklin (noun) means Historically, a free landowner in medieval England who ranked just below the nobility. Example: “The franklin in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is known for his generous hospitality.”
noun
1
Historically, a free landowner in medieval England who ranked just below the nobility.
"The franklin in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is known for his generous hospitality."
2
Informal US slang for a hundred-dollar bill, from Benjamin Franklin's portrait on it.
"That night, I bought a stack of spirit money. In U.S. currency, of course. I would make it rain Franklins in the spirit world."
— Ling Ma (2018)
"He peeled off a couple of franklins to cover dinner."
How to use Franklin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old English term for a commoner landowner, and modern slang for a $100 bill.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Franklins
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The _____ in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is known for his generous hospitality.
Etymology
From Middle English frankelein, "freeholder," ultimately related to "frank" (free) — a franklin was a free man who owned land but wasn't nobility.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Franklin” mean?
The word “Franklin” means historically, a free landowner in medieval England who ranked just below the nobility. In plain terms, an old English term for a commoner landowner, and modern slang for a $100 bill.
How do you pronounce “Franklin”?
“Franklin” is pronounced FRANGK-lihn (/ˈfɹæŋklɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “Franklin” in a sentence?
Here is “Franklin” used in a sentence: “The franklin in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is known for his generous hospitality.”
What part of speech is “Franklin”?
“Franklin” is a noun.
Where does the word “Franklin” come from?
The word “Franklin” comes from Middle English. From Middle English frankelein, "freeholder," ultimately related to "frank" (free) — a franklin was a free man who owned land but wasn't nobility.
Is “Franklin” a common word?
“Franklin” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Franklin” have?
“Franklin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: historically, a free landowner in medieval England who ranked just below the nobility.
What was a franklin in medieval England?
A franklin was a free landowner in medieval England who held his own land but ranked just below the nobility. Franklins were prosperous commoners rather than titled lords.
What is the difference between a "franklin" and a "yeoman"?
Both were free, land-holding commoners in medieval and later England, but a franklin generally ranked higher, just below the nobility, and typically held more land. A yeoman was a respectable freeholder of somewhat lower standing.
Should "franklin" be capitalized?
When it refers to the historical rank of a free landowner, "franklin" is a common noun and is written in lowercase. The slang term for a hundred-dollar bill is often capitalized as "Franklin" because it derives from Benjamin Franklin's name.
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