frank
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frank¹
- /fɹæŋk/ US, UK
- [ˈfɹʷæŋk] US, UK
- /fɹaŋk/ British, Northern England, Southern
- /fɾaŋk/ Scotland, Wales
- /fɹeɪ̯ŋk/
- [ˈfɹʷeɪ̯ŋk] ~ [ˈfɹʷɛ̃ŋk]
- /fɹæːŋk/ Australia
- [ˈfɹʷæːŋk] Australia
- [ˈfɹʷeːŋk] Australia
- /fɹɛŋk/ New Zealand
Sounds like franc, Frank · Rhymes with -æŋk
Where it comes from
From Middle English frank, from Old French franc (“free”), in turn from the name of an early Germanic confederation, the Franks, from Proto-West Germanic *frankō (“javelin, spear”). Doublet of Frank, franc, and farang.
adjective franker · frankest
-
Honest, especially in a manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised.
May I be frank with you?
Similar: unreserved, undisguised, free-spoken
- Unmistakable, clinically obvious, self-evident. The research probes whether treating pre-diabetes with metformin can prevent progression to frank diabetes.
- Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free. It is of frank gift.
- Liberal; generous; profuse. Frank of Civilities that cost them nothing.
- Unrestrained; loose; licentious. Over the fields, in his franke lustinesse, And all the champain o're he soared light.
noun franks
- Free postage, a right exercised by governments (usually with definite article). October 5, 1780, William Cowper, letter to Rev. William Unwin I have said so much, that, if I had not a frank, I must burn my letter and begin again.
- The notice on an envelope where a stamp would normally be found. But, although her friends were kind, Lady Anne was not easy; neither daughter made her appearance, nor did she receive a letter to account for their silence. She remembered, indeed, that Charles Penrhyn could not get franks now, and her daughters knew she would not pay postage; and she had commanded
verb franks · franking · franked
- To place a frank on an envelope. It will be so ridiculous to see all his letters directed to him with an M.P.—But do you know, he says, he will never frank for me?
- To exempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.
- To send by public conveyance free of expense. 1850-1859, Charles Dickens, Household Words This required extensive correspondence; so, in the next place, the privilege of franking letters in reference to the emigrants' registration office, was obtained—much to the indignation of red tapists.
frank²
- /fɹæŋk/ US, UK
- [ˈfɹʷæŋk] US, UK
- /fɹaŋk/ British, Northern England, Southern
- /fɾaŋk/ Scotland, Wales
- /fɹeɪ̯ŋk/
- [ˈfɹʷeɪ̯ŋk] ~ [ˈfɹʷɛ̃ŋk]
- /fɹæːŋk/ Australia
- [ˈfɹʷæːŋk] Australia
- [ˈfɹʷeːŋk] Australia
- /fɹɛŋk/ New Zealand
Sounds like franc, Frank · Rhymes with -æŋk
Where it comes from
Clipping of frankfurter.
noun franks
-
A hot dog or sausage.
Buy a package of franks for the barbecue.
Similar: frankfurt, frankfurter
frank³
- /fɹæŋk/ US, UK
- [ˈfɹʷæŋk] US, UK
- /fɹaŋk/ British, Northern England, Southern
- /fɾaŋk/ Scotland, Wales
- /fɹeɪ̯ŋk/
- [ˈfɹʷeɪ̯ŋk] ~ [ˈfɹʷɛ̃ŋk]
- /fɹæːŋk/ Australia
- [ˈfɹʷæːŋk] Australia
- [ˈfɹʷeːŋk] Australia
- /fɹɛŋk/ New Zealand
Sounds like franc, Frank · Rhymes with -æŋk
noun franks
- The grey heron.
frank⁴
- /fɹæŋk/ US, UK
- [ˈfɹʷæŋk] US, UK
- /fɹaŋk/ British, Northern England, Southern
- /fɾaŋk/ Scotland, Wales
- /fɹeɪ̯ŋk/
- [ˈfɹʷeɪ̯ŋk] ~ [ˈfɹʷɛ̃ŋk]
- /fɹæːŋk/ Australia
- [ˈfɹʷæːŋk] Australia
- [ˈfɹʷeːŋk] Australia
- /fɹɛŋk/ New Zealand
Sounds like franc, Frank · Rhymes with -æŋk
Where it comes from
From Old French franc.
noun franks
- A pigsty.
verb franks · franking · franked
- To shut up in a frank or sty; to pen up; hence, to cram; to fatten. Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid; He is franked up to fatting for his pains
frank⁵
- /fɹæŋk/ US, UK
- [ˈfɹʷæŋk] US, UK
- /fɹaŋk/ British, Northern England, Southern
- /fɾaŋk/ Scotland, Wales
- /fɹeɪ̯ŋk/
- [ˈfɹʷeɪ̯ŋk] ~ [ˈfɹʷɛ̃ŋk]
- /fɹæːŋk/ Australia
- [ˈfɹʷæːŋk] Australia
- [ˈfɹʷeːŋk] Australia
- /fɹɛŋk/ New Zealand
Sounds like franc, Frank · Rhymes with -æŋk
Where it comes from
From French franc.
noun franks
- Obsolete form of franc, former French coins, moneys of account, and currency. Frank, or Franc, an ancient coin, either of gold or ſilver, ſtruck and current in France. The value of the gold frank was ſomewhat more than that of the gold crown; the ſilver frank was a third of the gold one; this coin is long out of uſe, though the term is ſtill retained as the name of a money of
Frank⁶
- /ˈfɹæŋk/
- [ˈfɹʷæŋk]
- /ˈfɹeɪ̯ŋk/ Canada, US
- [ˈfɹʷeɪ̯ŋk] Canada, US
- /ˈfɹɛ̃ŋk/ Canada, US
- [ˈfɹʷɛ̃ŋk] Canada, US
Sounds like frank, franc · Rhymes with -æŋk
Where it comes from
From Middle English Frank, partially from Old English Franca (“a Frank”); and partially from Old French Franc, and/or Latin Francus (“a Frank”), from Frankish *Franko (“a Frank”); both maybe from Proto-Germanic *frankô (“javelin”). Cognate with Old High German Franko (“a Frank”), Old English franca (“spear, javelin”). Compare Saxon, ultimately a derivative of Proto-Germanic *sahsą (“knife, dagger”). Doublet of franc, frank, and farang.
noun Franks
- One of the Franks, a Germanic federation that inhabited parts of what are now France, the Low Countries and Germany.
- Frenchman.
Frank⁷
- /ˈfɹæŋk/
- [ˈfɹʷæŋk]
- /ˈfɹeɪ̯ŋk/ Canada, US
- [ˈfɹʷeɪ̯ŋk] Canada, US
- /ˈfɹɛ̃ŋk/ Canada, US
- [ˈfɹʷɛ̃ŋk] Canada, US
Sounds like frank, franc · Rhymes with -æŋk
Where it comes from
The surname derives from the medieval tribal name. The given name is also a form of Francis, with formal given name status since the 19th century.
proper noun
- A male given name from the Germanic languages. Mrs. Ford. How now, sweet Frank! why art thou melancholy?
- A diminutive of the male given name Francis. Your name is Francis, is it? Frank, sir. Your name is Francis. There was never a St. Frank. That's a name for gangsters and politicians.
- A surname transferred from the nickname.
- A community in Crowsnest Pass municipality, south-west Alberta, Canada.
- An unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina, United States.
- A census-designated place in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: forthright, plainspoken, direct, free-spoken, outspoken, obvious, candid, blunt, postmark, point-blank, weenie, hotdog, wienerwurst, wiener, frankfurter, upfront
Translations
Every language
adj bluntly honest
| Español | franco |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | はっきり言う |
| 中文 | 坦誠 /坦诚 tǎnchéng, 真誠 /真诚 zhēnchéng, 坦白 tǎnbái |
| हिन्दी | मुँहफट mũhphaṭ |
| Português | franco |
| Français | franc |
| Deutsch | ehrlich, offen, aufrichtig |
| Italiano | franco, franca |
| Română | franc, sincer |
| Русский | открове́нный otkrovénnyj, и́скренний ískrennij, откры́тый otkrýtyj |
| עברית | כן ken, גלוי־לב glúi-lev |
verb to place a frank on an envelope
| Deutsch | freimachen, frankieren |
|---|
noun one of the Franks
| Español | franco |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 프랑크인 peurangkeu'in |
| 日本語 | フランク人 furanku-jin, フランク族 furanku-zoku |
| 中文 | 法蘭克人 /法兰克人 fǎlánkèrén |
| Português | franco |
| Français | Franc, Franque |
| Deutsch | Franke, Fränkin |
| Ελληνικά | Φράγκος Frágkos |
| Русский | франк frank |
| العربية | إِفْرَنْجِيّ ʔifranjiyy |
name male given name
| Español | Franco |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 프랭크 Peuraengkeu, 프랑크 Peurangkeu |
| 日本語 | フランク Furanku |
| 中文 | 弗蘭克 /弗兰克 Fúlánkè |
| Português | Franco, Frank |
| Français | Franck, Frank, François |
| Deutsch | Frank |
| Italiano | Franco |
| Ελληνικά | Φρανκ |
| Русский | Франк, Фрэнк Frɛnk |
| العربية | فْرَنْك frank |
| עברית | פְרַנְק frank |
name diminutive
| Português | Chico |
|---|
name surname
| 中文 | 弗蘭克 /弗兰克 Fúlánkè |
|---|
Talk about this word "frank." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/frank. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. frank. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/frank "frank." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/frank.Cite this
@misc{frank_2026,
title = {frank},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/frank},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
