franchise

1 : freedom or immunity from some burden or restriction vested in a person or group

2a : a special privilege granted to an individual or group especially : the right to be and exercise the powers of a corporation

b : a constitutional or statutory right or privilege especially : the right to vote

c(1) : the right or license granted to an individual or group to market a company's goods or services in a particular territory also : a business granted such a right or license just opened a new fast-food franchise down the street

(2) : the territory involved in such a right

3a : the right of membership in a professional sports league

b : a team and its operating organization having such membership He's the best player in the history of the franchise.

4 : a series of related works (such as novels or films) each of which includes the same characters or different characters that are understood to exist and interact in the same fictional universe with characters from the other works The main reason we all keep going back to the "Mission: Impossible" franchise is the stunts, of course. Watching Ethan Hunt as he scales mountains, jumps onto planes and dangles from skyscrapers fills us with eye-rolling delight.— Randy Myers Rowling's seven Harry Potter novels sold more than 500 million copies. Its respective film franchise drummed up over $7 billion at the box office.— Dory Jackson

Definition of franchise

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