name · noun · 57 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈfɹæŋklɪn/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
/ˈfɹæŋk.lɪn/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:F R AE1 NG K L IH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
name
Meaning 1
A surname transferred from the nickname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
name
Meaning 2
A surname transferred from the nickname.
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), American author, scientist, inventor, and diplomat, and one of the Founding Fathers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
name
Meaning 3
A male given name transferred from the surname, partly in honor of Benjamin Franklin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
name
Meaning 4
A rural municipality of Manitoba, Canada.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
name
Meaning 5
A municipality of Quebec, Canada.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
name
Meaning 6
A town and river in Tasmania.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
name
Meaning 7
An unrecognized proposed state in modern eastern Tennessee, United States. Capital: Greeneville.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, historical, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
name
Meaning 8
A number of places in the United States:
A town in Macon County, Alabama.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
name
Meaning 9
A number of places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Monroe County, Alabama.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
name
Meaning 10
A number of places in the United States:
A town in Izard County, Arkansas.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
name
Meaning 11
A number of places in the United States:
A census-designated place in Merced County, California.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
name
Meaning 12
A number of places in the United States:
A census-designated place in Sacramento County, California.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
name
Meaning 13
A number of places in the United States:
A town in New London County, Connecticut.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
name
Meaning 14
A number of places in the United States:
A minor city, the county seat of Heard County, Georgia.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
name
Meaning 15
A number of places in the United States:
A city in Franklin County, Idaho.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
name
Meaning 16
A number of places in the United States:
A village in Morgan County, Illinois.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
name
Meaning 17
A number of places in the United States:
A city, the county seat of Johnson County, Indiana.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
18
name
Meaning 18
A number of places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Dalton Township, Wayne County, Indiana.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
19
name
Meaning 19
A number of places in the United States:
A minor city in Lee County, Iowa.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
20
name
Meaning 20
A number of places in the United States:
A census-designated place in Crawford County, Kansas.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
21
name
Meaning 21
A number of places in the United States:
A ghost town in Douglas County, Kansas
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
22
name
Meaning 22
A number of places in the United States:
A city, the county seat of Simpson County, Kentucky.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
23
name
Meaning 23
A number of places in the United States:
A city, the parish seat of St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
24
name
Meaning 24
A number of places in the United States:
A town in Hancock County, Maine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
25
name
Meaning 25
A number of places in the United States:
A town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
26
name
Meaning 26
A number of places in the United States:
A village in Southfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
27
name
Meaning 27
A number of places in the United States:
A minor city in Renville County, Minnesota.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
28
name
Meaning 28
A number of places in the United States:
A minor city in Howard County, Missouri.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
29
name
Meaning 29
A number of places in the United States:
A minor city, the county seat of Franklin County, Nebraska.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
30
name
Meaning 30
A number of places in the United States:
A city in Merrimack County, New Hampshire.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
31
name
Meaning 31
A number of places in the United States:
A borough in Sussex County, New Jersey.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
32
name
Meaning 32
A number of places in the United States:
A town in Franklin County, New York.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
33
name
Meaning 33
A number of places in the United States:
A town and village in Delaware County, New York.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
34
name
Meaning 34
A number of places in the United States:
A town, the county seat of Macon County, North Carolina.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
35
name
Meaning 35
A number of places in the United States:
A city in Warren County, Ohio.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
36
name
Meaning 36
A number of places in the United States:
A city, the county seat of Venango County, Pennsylvania.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
37
name
Meaning 37
A number of places in the United States:
A borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
38
name
Meaning 38
A number of places in the United States:
A city, the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
39
name
Meaning 39
A number of places in the United States:
A city, the county seat of Robertson County, Texas.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
40
name
Meaning 40
A number of places in the United States:
A town in Franklin County, Vermont.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
41
name
Meaning 41
A number of places in the United States:
An independent city in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
42
name
Meaning 42
A number of places in the United States:
A town, the county seat of Pendleton County, West Virginia.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
43
name
Meaning 43
A number of places in the United States:
A city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin; a suburb of Milwaukee.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
44
name
Meaning 44
A number of places in the United States:
A town and unincorporated community in Jackson County, Wisconsin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
45
name
Meaning 45
A number of places in the United States:
A town in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
46
name
Meaning 46
A number of places in the United States:
A town in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
47
name
Meaning 47
A number of places in the United States:
A town in Sauk County, Wisconsin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
48
name
Meaning 48
A number of places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
49
name
Meaning 49
A number of places in the United States:
A town in Vernon County, Wisconsin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
50
name
Meaning 50
A number of places in the United States:
A number of townships in the United States, including in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, listed under Franklin Township.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
51
noun
Meaning 51
A one-hundred-dollar bill, which carries the portrait of Benjamin Franklin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Ben, Ben Franklin, Benjamin, Benjamin Franklin
Antonyms: none provided
52
noun
Meaning 52
A Franklin half dollar.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: numismatic slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
53
noun
Meaning 53
A member of the Franklin society, a social club at Whittier College founded in 1921.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
54
noun
Meaning 54
A freeholder, especially as belonging to a class of landowners in the 14th and 15th century ranking at the bottom of the gentry.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
55
noun
Meaning 55
a landowner (14th and 15th centuries) who was free but not of noble birth
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
printer whose success as an author led him to take up politics; he helped draw up the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; he played a major role in the American Revolution and negotiated French support for the colonists; as a scientist he is remembered particularly for his research in electricity (1706-1790)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Benjamin Franklin
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: American Revolutionary leader, printer, pressman, scientist, writer, author
57
noun
Meaning 57
United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: John Hope Franklin
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: historian, historiographer
History
Etymology
From Middle English frankelein (“freeholder”), see franklin. The place names are mostly named after American statesman Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790).
From Middle English frankelein (“freeholder”), from Anglo-Norman fraunclein (“a landowner of free, but not noble birth”), from Old French fraunc (“free”), from Frankish *Frankō (“Frank”, literally “freeman”) + Old French -lein (“-ling”), from Frankish *-ling (“-ling”). More at frank, -ling.
Across languages
Translations
7 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
Фра́нклин
(Fránklin)
— surname
Chinese Mandarin:
富蘭克林 /富兰克林
(Fùlánkèlín)
— surname
Russian:
Фра́нклин
(Fránklin)
— surname
Bulgarian:
Фра́нклин
(Fránklin)
— male given name
Chinese Mandarin:
富蘭克林 /富兰克林
(Fùlánkèlín)
— male given name