fran·chise (frăn'chīz')
n.

1. A privilege or right officially granted a person or a group by a government, especially:
   1. The constitutional or statutory right to vote.
   2. The establishment of a corporation's existence.
   3. The granting of certain rights and powers to a corporation.
   4. Legal immunity from servitude, certain burdens, or other restrictions.
2. 1. Authorization granted to someone to sell or distribute a company's goods or services in a certain area.
   2. A business or group of businesses established or operated under such authorization.
   3. A brand name under which a series of products is released.
3. The territory or limits within which immunity, a privilege, or a right may be exercised.
4. A professional sports team.

tr.v., -chised, -chis·ing, -chis·es.
To grant a franchise to.

[Middle English fraunchise, from Old French franchise, from franche, feminine of franc, free, exempt. See frank¹.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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