enfranchise

What does “enfranchise” mean?

verb.to give the right to vote to.

SAT Usage

the term often appears in discussions about civil rights, social justice, or political movements, emphasizing the importance of granting citizens a voice in democracy. It conveys a sense of empowerment and inclusion, contrasting with terms like "disenfranchise," which implies the removal of voting rights and highlights the struggles for equality and representation.

Common Confusions

Enfranchise implies granting voting rights and empowering citizens, while disenfranchise usually suggests the taking away of those rights, leading to exclusion and disenfranchisement from the democratic process.

Example Sentences

• The movement worked to enfranchise thousands of new voters.

• The amendment helped enfranchise millions of voters.

Word Parts: How to Remember “enfranchise”

Break “enfranchise” into its parts: en- (in, into). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: en- in, into (Latin)