franchise
In a political context, this term carries a heavy weight of civic right and democratic empowerment. It refers to the legal privilege of voting, often used in formal discussions regarding suffrage and electoral law.
In a commercial sense, the word shifts toward a contractual relationship. It describes a system of brand replication where a parent company sells the right to use its intellectual property and operational model to a third party. In modern entertainment, it has evolved to describe a cohesive narrative universe spanning multiple media formats.
Meanings
The right to vote in public, political elections.
Universal suffrage ensures that every adult citizen has the franchise.
An authorization granted by a company to an individual or group to operate a business using its name and systems.
The entrepreneur decided to buy a fast-food franchise in the suburbs.
A professional sports team that is part of a larger league organization.
The city is hoping to attract a new NFL franchise to boost the local economy.
Examples
Phrasal Verbs
franchise out
to expand a business by granting franchises to multiple third-party operators
The company decided to franchise out its successful bakery model to entrepreneurs across the country.