: the right or license granted to an individual or group to market a company's goods or services in a particular territory
also: a business granted such a right or license
just opened a new fast-food franchise down the street
(2)
: the territory involved in such a right
b
: a constitutional or statutory right or privilege
especially: the right to vote
c
: a special privilege granted to an individual or group
especially: the right to be and exercise the powers of a corporation
2
a
: the right of membership in a professional sports league
b
: a team and its operating organization having such membership
He's the best player in the history of the franchise.
3
: a series of related works (such as novels or films) each of which includes the same characters or different characters that are understood to exist and interact in the same fictional universe with characters from the other works
The main reason we all keep going back to the "Mission: Impossible" franchise is the stunts, of course. Watching Ethan Hunt as he scales mountains, jumps onto planes and dangles from skyscrapers fills us with eye-rolling delight. Randy Myers
Rowling's seven Harry Potter novels sold more than 500 million copies. Its respective film franchise drummed up over $7 billion at the box office. Dory Jackson
4
: freedom or immunity from some burden or restriction vested in a person or group
Franchise was voted into early 14th-century English as both a noun and verb. It is from the Anglo-French verb franchir, meaning "to free," itself from franc, "free." To be perfectly frank, the word franchise is most often encountered today with reference to restaurant chains or professional sports teams (e.g., "a franchise quarterback"), not to mention branded retail stores and sequel-driven movies and novels. These commercial meanings are far from the original meaning of the word in English: "freedom or immunity from some burden or restriction vested in a person or group." This meaning evolved into the "right to vote" sense of the word.
Noun She was granted an exclusive franchise in the city's west end. They just opened a new fast-food franchise down the street. The U.S. did not extend the franchise to women until the early 20th century. He's the best player in the history of the franchise.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
While The Walking Dead show will be wrapping up with its series finale Nov. 20 on AMC, The Walking Dead franchise is, in many ways, just getting started. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2022 Hockey Less than four months ago, the Anchorage Wolverines were wrapping up an inaugural season in the North American Hockey League that saw the franchise finish runner-up for the Robertson Cup championship. Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Sep. 2022 The mainline Yakuza games are set in contemporary Tokyo, primarily in the fictional district Kamurocho (which is based on the glitzy, real-life Kabukicho), but the franchise has also created a small spinoff series set in 19th-century Japan. Jonathan Lee, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 That filmed revived the franchise earlier this year with strong reviews and $140 million at the worldwide box office. Zack Sharf, Variety, 14 Sep. 2022 Ramirez is tied with Rocky Colavito for 11th place the franchise home run list. Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 14 Sep. 2022 Sterling was banished by the then-new commissioner Adam Silver and forced to sell the franchise. Dana Scott, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 Sterling soon after was forced to sell the franchise. Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 The Aces are now one victory away from the franchise’s first championship with Game 3 on Thursday in Connecticut.Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022
Verb
Lew and co-owner Tommy Charoen are making moves to franchise Rooster & Rice, and plan to expand the menu in the future. Megha Mcswain, Chron, 13 July 2022 One thing solopreneurs can do is to look for an existing brand that is willing to franchise. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 June 2022 More surprising than the Jaguars’ shopping spree in free agency might have been the decision to franchise tag LT Cam Robinson. Brad Biggs, chicagotribune.com, 3 Apr. 2022 The Jags might have quietly altered the top of this draft after opting to franchise LT Cam Robinson for the second straight year. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2022 The couple plans to franchise Nourish + Bloom Markets around the country, hoping to reach a goal of 800 stores in total. Aliyah Thomas, ABC News, 26 Jan. 2022 This will be another attempt to franchise the business, which got its start at 14933 S. Pulaski Road in Midlothian. Bob Bong, chicagotribune.com, 12 Jan. 2022 The Browns have Mayfield for this year, and then can franchise tag him in future years. Doug Lesmerises, cleveland, 16 Jan. 2022 The Patriots could franchise tag Jackson, pushing his free agency to 2023 by offering him a guaranteed one-year contract projected to be worth $17.3 million.BostonGlobe.com, 16 Jan. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from franchir to free, from franc free — more at frank