Noun

1. A right or privilege officially granted to a person, a group of people, or a company by a government.
2. An acknowledgment of a corporation's existence and ownership.
3. The authorization granted by a company to sell or distribute its goods or services in a certain area.

   McDonalds has exported its franchise.

4. A business operating under such authorization.
5. A legal exemption from jurisdiction.
6. The membership of a corporation or state; citizenship.
7. The right to vote at a public election.
8. 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.

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

   the Star Wars franchise

Verb

1. To confer certain powers on; grant a franchise to; authorize.
2. To set free; invest with a franchise or privilege; enfranchise.

Noun

1. A franchise (authorization granted by a company to sell or distribute its goods or services in a certain area)