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Noun: enfranchisement  in'fran,chIz-munt
  1. (law) a statutory right or privilege granted to a person or group by a government (especially the rights of citizenship and the right to vote)
    "The enfranchisement of former felons remains a contentious issue";
    - franchise
     
  2. Freedom from political subjugation or servitude
    "The enfranchisement of former slaves was a significant milestone in the country's history"
     
  3. The act of certifying or bestowing a franchise on
    "The enfranchisement of the new business location was completed";
    - certification

Derived forms: enfranchisements

Type of: authorisation [Brit], authorization, empowerment, freedom, legal right

Antonym: disenfranchisement

Encyclopedia: Enfranchisement