disenfranchisement
disenfranchisement — noun
1. the act of stopping a person or group from having the legal right to vote in ele
the act of stopping a person or group from having the legal right to vote in elections
The new law led to the disenfranchisement of thousands of young voters across the state.
disenfranchisement of + [group] — the typical noun pattern
Activists marched to protest the disenfranchisement of minority communities in the election.
After the court ruling, the disenfranchisement of former prisoners became a heated national debate.
The report examined the country's long history of voter disenfranchisement and its effects on democracy.
Campaigners called for an end to the systematic disenfranchisement of rural populations at election time.
- disfranchisement
less common spelling variant, same meaning
- exclusion
broader — can refer to any form of being left out, not just voting
- deprivation of rights
more formal and legal, covering all rights not just voting
- enfranchisement
the act of giving someone the right to vote
- inclusion
broader opposite in political participation contexts
文法句型
disenfranchisement + of + [group/person]
用法筆記
This sense refers strictly to the removal of voting rights. Frequently used in political, legal, and historical contexts. The subject ('of') is usually a group that has lost the right to vote.
常見錯誤
2. a situation in which a person or group has no control, influence, or chance to t
a situation in which a person or group has no control, influence, or chance to take part in decisions that affect their lives
Long-term unemployment created a deep sense of disenfranchisement among factory workers in the region.
sense of disenfranchisement — common collocation for the abstract meaning
The survey measured feelings of political disenfranchisement among young adults aged eighteen to thirty.
political disenfranchisement — adjective + noun, abstract sense
Many residents expressed disenfranchisement after the local government ignored their repeated complaints about road safety.
The novel explores themes of poverty, racial injustice, and the disenfranchisement of working-class families.
Rapid urban development left many elderly residents with a feeling of disenfranchisement as their neighborhood changed.
- powerlessness
more direct and common; lacks the political/systemic nuance
- marginalization
more precise — being pushed to the edges of society
- alienation
focuses on emotional separation rather than lack of power
- empowerment
gaining power and control over one's life
- inclusion
being part of decision-making processes
文法句型
sense/feeling of disenfranchisement
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (VOTING RIGHTS): this sense describes a psychological or social state rather than a concrete legal action. Often occurs with 'sense of', 'feeling of', or 'political' as a modifier.
常見錯誤
disenfranchisement — verb
1. to take away a person's or group's right to vote or their ability to fully take
to take away a person's or group's right to vote or their ability to fully take part in the legal and political system
New identification rules could disenfranchise thousands of elderly people who lack official documents.
disenfranchise + [group] — direct object pattern
Laws that disenfranchise citizens based on their income have been challenged by civil rights groups.
The amendment was designed to disenfranchise voters from low-income neighborhoods across the city.
Thousands of students were disenfranchised when the polling station near the university campus was closed.
Critics argued that the residency requirement would unfairly disenfranchise military personnel serving overseas.
- disfranchise
older, less common spelling, same meaning
- deprive of rights
more general legal term
- exclude
broader and less formal
- enfranchise
to give someone the right to vote
- empower
to give someone power or authority
文法句型
disenfranchise + [person/group]
be disenfranchised
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice ('they were disenfranchised'). The subject of the active form is typically a law, policy, or government action. The object is always a person or group.