franchise
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a right given by a company to a person or group to sell its products or services in a specific area.
n.a commercial authorization granted by a corporation to an individual or group, enabling them to carry out specified commercial activities.
Simple“He decided to open a fast-food franchise because the brand was already famous.”
In context“The entrepreneur evaluated several franchise opportunities, weighing the high initial investment against the security of an established supply chain.”
UsageOften used with 'open', 'buy', or 'operate'.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a series of related films, books, or games that share the same characters or world.
n.a collection of related intellectual property across various media, typically authorized by a single copyright holder.
Simple“The superhero franchise has released over twenty movies in the last decade.”
In context“The studio's most profitable franchise expanded into theme parks and merchandise, ensuring long-term revenue beyond the box office.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.the legal right to vote in a public election.
n.the constitutional or statutory right to vote in public elections; often referred to as 'the franchise'.
Simple“In the early 20th century, many women fought to gain the franchise.”
In context“The expansion of the franchise was a pivotal moment in the country's transition toward a more inclusive democracy.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a professional sports team that is part of a league.
n.a professional sports organization that is a member of a league, particularly in North American sports structures.
Simple“The city was excited to finally have its own basketball franchise.”
In context“The league decided to award an expansion franchise to the city after seeing the high demand for professional hockey in the region.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to give a person or company the right to sell your products.
v.to grant a franchise to an individual or group; to authorize the distribution of goods or services under a brand name.
Simple“The company plans to franchise its coffee shops across Europe next year.”
In context“By choosing to franchise the business model rather than owning every location, the corporation achieved rapid international growth with minimal capital risk.”
UsageTransitive verb taking a direct object.
“Nighy has made his share of blockbusters, including two voyages with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, where he was hidden behind a beard of writhing, computer-generated tentacles.”
“The franchise will now hope to have acquired new fans and take momentum from their first on-field triumph, while they also pocket £275,000 in prize money.”
From Middle English franchise, fraunchise, from Old French franchise (“freedom”), a derivative of franc (“free”). More at frank.
From Middle English franchisen, fraunchisen, from Old French franchir (stem franchiss-, “to set free”), from franc (“free”). More at frank.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.