Meaning

• The right to vote at a public election or referendum; see: suffrage, suffragette.

• A right or privilege officially granted to a person, a group of people, or a company by a government.

• An acknowledgment of a corporation's existence and ownership.

• The authorization granted by a company to sell or distribute its goods or services in a certain area.

  "McDonalds has exported its franchise."

• A business operating under such authorization, a franchisee.

• A legal exemption from jurisdiction.

• The membership of a corporation or state; citizenship.

• The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary.

• The collection of organizations in the history of a sports team; the tradition of a sports team as an entity, extending beyond the contemporary organization.

  "The Whalers' home city of Hartford was one of many for the franchise."

• The positive influence on the buying behavior of customers exerted by the reputation of a company or a brand.

• The loose collection of fictional works pertaining to a particular universe, including literary, film or television series from various sources.

  "the Star Wars franchise"

• Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty.

• Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility.