disenfranchise
gb/dɪsɪnfɹˈænt͡ʃˌaɪz/ us/dɪsɪnfɹˈænt͡ʃˌaɪz/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
take away voting rights
to stop someone from being able to vote, especially by law or unfair rules
Usage pattern:
disenfranchise [voters/a group]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this with a restaurant or business franchise; here, franchise means a legal right, especially the right to vote.
Synonyms
deprive of the vote (more explicit and less formal)
|
exclude from voting (plain-language equivalent)
|
suppress the vote of (often suggests unfair tactics rather than a formal legal loss of rights)
Antonyms
enfranchise (to give or restore the right to vote)
|
register (to officially add someone to a list of eligible voters)
Collocations
disenfranchise voters
|disenfranchise citizens
|disenfranchise minority voters
|disenfranchise poor voters
|effectively disenfranchise
|systematically disenfranchise
|disenfranchised voters
|voter disenfranchisement
Themes
politics
|law
|civil_rights
|government
Examples
- The law was challenged because it could disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters.
- Long lines, missing ballots, and confusing rules can effectively disenfranchise people even without an explicit ban.
- For decades, many citizens were disenfranchised through literacy tests and poll taxes.
Learner examples
- The new rule may disenfranchise many voters.
- They said the policy would disenfranchise young people.
Verb
formal
C1
action
2
exclude from power
to make people feel that they have no power, rights, or voice in a system
Usage pattern:
disenfranchise [someone/a group] from [a process/system]
Common mistake:
This meaning is usually about real exclusion or loss of influence, not simply feeling disappointed or unhappy.
Synonyms
marginalize (emphasizes pushing people to the edge of society or decision-making)
|
exclude (broader and more neutral)
|
disempower (emphasizes taking away power or agency)
|
alienate (emphasizes making people feel disconnected or ignored)
Antonyms
empower (to give people power, confidence, or control)
|
include (to allow someone to participate)
|
engage (to involve people actively in a process)
Collocations
disenfranchise communities
|disenfranchise workers
|disenfranchise young people
|disenfranchised groups
|disenfranchised communities
|politically disenfranchised
|economically disenfranchised
|feel disenfranchised
Themes
society
|politics
|inequality
|organizations
Examples
- Many residents felt disenfranchised by a planning process that ignored their concerns.
- The company’s restructuring disenfranchised employees who had no say in decisions affecting their jobs.
- When decisions are made behind closed doors, members are likely to feel disenfranchised.
Learner examples
- The students felt disenfranchised because no one listened to them.
- The policy disenfranchised small local businesses.
Grammar
Dictionary form
disenfranchise
IPA
GB/dɪsɪnfɹˈænt͡ʃˌaɪz/
US/dɪsɪnfɹˈænt͡ʃˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
dis - en - fran - chise (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (fran)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: disenfranchise
- 3rd Person Singular: disenfranchises
- Present Participle: disenfranchising
- Past: disenfranchised
Expressions
felony disenfranchisement
1/fˈɛləni dɪsɪnfɹˈænt͡ʃˌaɪzmənt/
fixed phrase
legal
voting ban for felons
a rule that stops people with serious criminal convictions from voting
Examples
- Felony disenfranchisement laws vary widely from state to state.
- Advocates argue that felony disenfranchisement has a disproportionate impact on some communities.
- The court considered whether the state’s felony disenfranchisement policy violated the constitution.
felony disenfranchisement
1/fˈɛləni dɪsɪnfɹˈænt͡ʃˌaɪzmənt/
fixed phrase
legal
Voting bans after felonies
A rule that stops some people with felony convictions from voting.
Examples
- Several states have reconsidered felony disenfranchisement laws in recent years.
- Opponents argue that felony disenfranchisement makes reintegration harder.
- The report compares felony disenfranchisement policies across the United States.
the disenfranchised
1/ðə dɪsɪnfɹˈænt͡ʃˌaɪzd/
fixed phrase
formal
excluded powerless people
people who have little power or are not allowed to take part fully in society
Examples
- The campaign promised to give a voice to the disenfranchised.
- The organization works with the poor, the displaced, and the disenfranchised.
- Political leaders often speak about helping the disenfranchised but fail to change the systems that exclude them.