franchise

Etymology 1

From Middle English franchise, fraunchise, from Old French franchise (“freedom”), a derivative of franc (“free”). More at frank.

noun

1. The right to vote at a public election or referendum; see: suffrage, suffragette.
2. A right or privilege officially granted to a person, a group of people, or a company by a government.
   a. 1872, William H. Seward, debate Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning franchise of the American people.
3. An acknowledgment of a corporation's existence and ownership.
4. The authorization granted by a company to sell or distribute its goods or services in a certain area.
   McDonald’s has exported its franchise.
5. A business operating under such authorization, a franchisee.
6. A legal exemption from jurisdiction.
7. The membership of a corporation or state; citizenship.
8. The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary.
   Churches and monasteries in Spain are franchises for criminals. 1810, “Franchise”, in James Millar, editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica
9. (sports) The collection of organizations in the history of a sports team; the tradition of a sports team as an entity, extending beyond the contemporary organization.
   The Whalers' home city of Hartford was one of many for the franchise.
10. (business, marketing) The positive influence on the buying behavior of customers exerted by the reputation of a company or a brand.
    Once a brand has established a consumer franchise and a brand image, it takes a long time for these to decay, as the image is maintained more by people's personal familiarity with and usage of the brand than by external marketing stimuli. 2000, John Philip Jones, Behind powerful brands: from strategy to campaign, page 80
    Warren Buffett teaches us that the best business to own, the one with the best long-term prospects is a franchise - one that sells a product or service that is needed or desired, has no close substitute, and yields profits that are unregulated. 2002, Robert G. Hagstrom, The Essential Buffett: Timeless Principles for the New Economy, page 26
    Certain other industries have no plant. Value derives entirely from brand franchise. (Consulting firms, engineering firms, and advertising agencies do not talk about the value of their franchise. Instead, they talk about "reputation".) 2007, Jack L. Treynor, Treynor on institutional investing, page 354
11. The loose collection of fictional works pertaining to a particular fictional universe, including literary, film, or television series from various sources, generally when all authorized by a copyright holder or similar authority.
    the Star Wars franchise
12. Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty.
13. (obsolete) Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility.

Etymology 2

From Middle English franchisen, fraunchisen, from Old French franchir (stem franchiss-, “to set free”), from franc (“free”). More at frank.

verb

1. (transitive) To confer certain powers on; grant a franchise to; authorize.
2. (transitive, rare) To set free; invest with a franchise or privilege; enfranchise.