Disfranchise: meaning, definitions and examples

^{Context #1 | Verb}

legal status

To disfranchise someone means to deprive them of the right to vote or participate in political processes. This term is often used in the context of laws or practices that deliberately exclude specific groups from voting. Disfranchisement can occur through various means, such as literacy tests, poll taxes, or outright intimidation. It has significant implications for democracy and representation, as it can disenfranchise entire communities, particularly marginalized groups. The act of disfranchising is typically viewed as a violation of civil rights.

deprive, disempower, exclude, marginalize.

Examples of usage

• Many laws were designed to disfranchise African American voters.

• The new voting requirements threaten to disfranchise the elderly.

• Historically, women were often disfranchised until the suffrage movement.

• Certain policies aimed to disfranchise low-income individuals.