franchise

IPA: frˈæntʃaɪz

The right to vote at a public election or referendum; see: suffrage.
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.
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.
(sports) 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.
(business, marketing) 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 fictional universe, including literary, film, or television series from various sources, generally when all authorized by a copyright holder or similar authority.
Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty.
(obsolete) Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility.

(transitive) To confer certain powers on; grant a franchise to; authorize.
(transitive, rare) To set free; invest with a franchise or privilege; enfranchise.
(transitive) To give to others the rights to sell or distribute (goods or services).

Examples of "franchise" in Sentences

The future for this franchise is anything but clear.
What if the franchise is already buried six feet under?
Every product related to the franchise is awaited with bated breath.
I may not approve of all that Jones has done but seeing Al Davis in Oakland year after year destroying a franchise is a travesty.
Allen Iverson — "The impact that he had on the franchise is amazing; one of he most electrifying players in the history of the NBA."
The phrase "franchise quarterback" suggests to me someone who can consistently carry the team, and I don't think Sanchez is there yet.
The one thing I hope makes it back into the franchise is the bigger stories about humanity and morality that existed in the original series.
If you look closely at the Detroit Stanley Cup Finals roster, particularly at youngsters like Jonathan Ericsson and Helm, it's clear why this franchise is the envy of most teams around the NHL.
I respect film critics in what they do, but with what that said, and particularly in this case, I think that this franchise is accomplishing what it set out to do, which is to please the fans, Welch says.