franchise

noun

• 1an authorization granted by a government or company to an individual or group enabling them to carry out specified commercial activities, for example acting as an agent for a company’s products: Toyota granted the group a franchise [mass noun]:lagers brewed under franchise [as modifier]:franchise holders
• a business or service given a franchise to operate: fast-food franchises dot the roadside
• a general title or concept used for creating or marketing a series of products, typically films or television shows:the Harry Potter franchise
• North American an authorization given by a league to own a sports team: the two cities will be awarded franchises as the teams join the National League
• North American informal a professional sports team.
• (also franchise player) North American informal a star player in a team.

• 2 [mass noun] (usually the franchise) the right to vote in public elections: the franchise was limited to Estonian citizens the election by universal franchise of a constituent assembly
• the rights of citizenship: the bishop’s authority was deployed to extend the franchise of civilized Christian living

verb

• grant a franchise to (an individual or group): (as adjective franchised)a franchised dealer
• grant a franchise for the sale of (goods) or the operation of (a service):all the catering was franchised out