/ ˈfræntʃaɪz; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] formal permission given by a company to sb who wants to sell its goods or services in a particular area; formal permission given by a government to sb who wants to operate a public service as a business :
a franchise agreement / company
a catering / rail franchise
In the reorganization, Southern Television lost their franchise.
to operate a business under franchise
2.
[ C ] a business or service run under franchise :
They operate franchises in London and Paris.
a burger franchise
3.
[ U ] ( formal ) the right to vote in a country's elections :
universal adult franchise
—see also enfranchise
■ verb
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to give or sell a franchise (1) to sb :
Catering has been franchised (out) to a private company.
franchised restaurants
► fran·chis·ing noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (denoting a grant of legal immunity): from Old French , based on franc , franche free, from medieval Latin francus free. Sense 3 dates from the late 18th cent. and senses 1 and 2 from the 20th cent.