frank
1direct and unreserved in speech; straightforward; sincere: Her criticism of my work was frank but absolutely fair.
without inhibition or subterfuge; transparent; undisguised: The letter contained a frank appeal for financial aid.
Pathology. clinically evident; unmistakable: frank blood.
Archaic. liberal or generous.
Obsolete. free.
a signature or mark affixed by special privilege to a letter, package, or the like to ensure its transmission free of charge, as by mail.
the privilege of having letters, packages, etc., transmitted free of charge.
a letter, package, etc., transmitted free of charge by special privilege.
to mark (a letter, package, etc.) for transmission free of the usual charge, by virtue of official or special privilege; send free of charge, as mail.
to convey (a person) free of charge.
to enable to pass or go freely: to frank a visitor through customs.
to facilitate the comings and goings of (a person), especially in society: A sizable inheritance will frank you faster than anything else.
to secure exemption for.
Carpentry. to assemble (millwork, as sash bars) with a miter joint through the moldings and a butt joint or mortise-and-tenon joint for the rest.
Origin of frank
1synonym study For frank
Other words for frank
1 | unconstrained, unguarded, free; bold, uninhibited |
2 | naked, blunt |
Opposites for frank
Other words from frank
- frank·a·ble, adjective
- frank·er, noun
Words Nearby frank
Other definitions for frank (2 of 4)
Origin of frank
2Other definitions for Frank (3 of 4)
a member of a group of ancient Germanic peoples dwelling in the regions of the Rhine, one division of whom, the Salians, conquered Gaul about a.d. 500, founded an extensive kingdom, and gave origin to the name France.
(in the Levant) any native of western Europe.
Origin of Frank
3Other definitions for Frank (4 of 4)
Anne, 1929–45, German Jewish girl who died in Belsen concentration camp in Germany: her diaries about her family hiding from Nazis in Amsterdam (1942–44) were published in 1947.
Il·ya Mi·khai·lo·vich [ee-lyah myi-khahy-luh-vyich], /iˌlyɑ myɪˈxaɪ lə vyɪtʃ/, 1908–90, Russian physicist: Nobel Prize 1958.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use frank in a sentence
This is a private conversation with experts and adoptive parents for a frank discussion about the process, needs and how their lives have changed by adopting.
Rainbow Families discuss adoption, foster care | Philip Van Slooten | September 4, 2020 | Washington BladeAs some in person meetings are beginning to resume, attendees say that aside from picking the location and setting a time to meet, frank discussions about the coronavirus are now part of the mix.
‘Safe and healthy’: As in person meetings resume, business execs are having the coronavirus ‘talk’ | Kristina Monllos | September 4, 2020 | DigidayTo be frank, landing pages live separately from your initial website.
Studying the anatomy of a successful high-conversion landing page | Yasmine Dehimi | June 22, 2020 | Search Engine WatchThe second monkey, I’ll dub him “frank,” only got his sip of juice when he looked at the first target object.
How Scientists Influenced Monkeys’ Decisions Using Ultrasound in Their Brains | Shelly Fan | May 27, 2020 | Singularity HubI’ve written a book to try to explain my perspectives, and I hope people will say that it’s a frank and reasonable effort, and some important things change for the better.
A Wall Street person should not be allowed to help oversee the Dodd-frank reforms.
Indeed, as an almost purely advisory firm, Lazard is (appropriately) barely affected by the Dodd-frank reforms.
As he drove me back to the logging road, frank told me about the area in his deep voice.
The 7-Year-Old Plane Crash Survivor’s Brutal Journey Through the Woods | James Higdon | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe housing bubble was at very the center of the financial crisis that birthed Dodd-frank.
Think about it: Dodd-frank was explicitly passed to drive a stake through the heart of the implicit concept of “too big to fail.”
Miss Thangue sat forward with the frank curiosity of the Englishwoman when inspecting a foreign specimen.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonBidding a young bank manager take charge of the detachment, frank led the newcomer rapidly to headquarters.
The Red Year | Louis TracyTo save his faithful servant frank wheeled Nejdi, and cut down a native who was lunging at Chumru with a bayonet.
The Red Year | Louis TracyIf you were to have a frank explanation with her, Blanche would very soon throw Jim Crow out of the window.
Confidence | Henry Jamesfrank loosened his sword from its fastenings and took a revolver in his left hand, in which he also held the reins.
The Red Year | Louis Tracy
British Dictionary definitions for frank (1 of 3)
/ (fræŋk) /
honest and straightforward in speech or attitude: a frank person
outspoken or blunt
mainly British to put a mark on (a letter, parcel, etc), either cancelling the postage stamp or in place of a stamp, ensuring free carriage: See also postmark
to mark (a letter, parcel, etc) with an official mark or signature, indicating the right of free delivery
to facilitate or assist (a person) to come and go, pass, or enter easily
to obtain immunity for or exempt (a person)
an official mark or signature affixed to a letter, parcel, etc, ensuring free delivery or delivery without stamps
the privilege, issued to certain people and establishments, entitling them to delivery without postage stamps
Origin of frank
1Derived forms of frank
- frankable, adjective
- franker, noun
- frankness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for Frank (2 of 3)
/ (fræŋk) /
a member of a group of West Germanic peoples who spread from the east bank of the middle Rhine into the Roman Empire in the late 4th century ad, gradually conquering most of Gaul and Germany. The Franks achieved their greatest power under Charlemagne
Origin of Frank
2British Dictionary definitions for Frank (3 of 3)
/ (Dutch fraŋk) /
Anne . 1929–45, German Jewess, whose Diary (1947) recorded the experiences of her family while in hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam (1942–44). They were betrayed and she died in a concentration camp
Robert . born 1924, US photographer and film maker, born in Switzerland; best known for his photographic book The Americans (1959)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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