Frank

UK: 'frank': /ˈfræŋk/; 'Frank': English: /fræŋk/, German: /fraŋk/

US: /fræŋk/

US: 'frank': (frangk); 'Frank': (frangk, frängk; Russ., fränk; Ger.[?r] frängk)

Inflections of 'frank' (adj):

franker

adj comparative

frankest

adj superlative

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Frank / fræŋk/ noun

1. 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

Etymology: Old English Franca; related to Old High German Franko; perhaps from the name of a typical Frankish weapon (compare Old English franca javelin)

Frank noun

1. / fraŋk/ Anne. 1929–45, German Jew, 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
2. / fræŋk/ Robert. 1924–2019, US photographer and film maker, born in Switzerland; best known for his photographic book The Americans (1959)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

frank¹ /fræŋk/  adj., -er, -est. 

1. direct;
   holding nothing back:
   frank criticism.

n. [countable]

2. Stamps a stamp, printed marking, or signature on a piece of mail indicating that postal charges have been paid.

v. [~ + object]

3. Stamps to mark (mail) for transmission by a stamp, imprint, or signature:
   Department mail was free and franked through the university.

frank•ly, adv.: 

They spoke freely and frankly.

frank•ness, n. [uncountable]

frank² /fræŋk/   n. [countable]

1. Food a frankfurter.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

frank¹  (frangk), adj., -er, -est, n., v. 
adj. 

1. direct and unreserved in speech;
   straightforward;
   sincere:
   Her criticism of my work was frank but absolutely fair.
2. without inhibition or subterfuge;
   direct;
   undisguised:
   a frank appeal for financial aid.
3. [Pathol.] unmistakable;
   clinically evident:
   frank blood.
4. [Archaic.] liberal or generous.
5. [Obs.] free.

n. 

6. 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.
7. the privilege of franking letters, packages, etc.
8. a franked letter, package, etc.

v.t. 

9. 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.
10. to convey (a person) free of charge.
11. to enable to pass or go freely:
    to frank a visitor through customs.
12. to facilitate the comings and goings of (a person), esp. in society:
    A sizable inheritance will frank you faster than anything else.
13. to secure exemption for.
14. [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.

• Late Latin francus free, origin, originally Frank
• Old French franc
• Middle English 1250–1300

frank′a•ble, adj. 
frank′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. unrestrained, free, bold, uninhibited.
  Frank, candid, open, outspoken imply a freedom and boldness in speaking.
  Frank is applied to one unreserved in expressing the truth and to one's real opinions and sentiments:
  a frank analysis of a personal problem.
  Candid suggests that one is sincere and truthful or impartial and fair in judgment, sometimes unpleasantly so:
  a candid expression of opinion.
  Open implies a lack of reserve or of concealment:
  open antagonism.
  Outspoken applies to a person who expresses himself or herself freely, even when this is inappropriate:
  an outspoken and unnecessary show of disapproval.

Antonyms

• 1. restrained.

frank²  (frangk), n. [Informal.]

1. Food frankfurter.

• by shortening 1900–05, American.

Frank  (frangk), n. 

1. Ancient History, Biographical, World History 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.
2. Biographical, World History (in the Levant) any native of western Europe.

• Middle English Franke, Old English Franca (cognate with Old High German Franko), perh. from the Gmc base of Old English franka spear, javelin, a weapon allegedly favored by the Franks bef. 900

Frank  (frangk, frängk; Russ., fränk;
Ger. frängk), n. 

1. 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) published in 1947.
Il•ya Mi•khai•lo•vich  (ē lyä′ myi khī′ lə vyich), 1908–90, Russian physicist: Nobel prize 1958. Le•on•hard  (lā′ôn härt), 1882–1961, German novelist.
2. Biographical Waldo, 1889–1967, U.S. novelist and social critic.
3. a male given name, form of Francis or Franklin. 

Frank., 

1. Language Varieties, Ancient History Frankish.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

We•de•kind  (vā′də kint′), n. 

Frank  (frängk), 1864–1918, German poet and dramatist.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

frank / fræŋk/ adjective

1. honest and straightforward in speech or attitude: a frank person
2. outspoken or blunt
3. open and avowed; undisguised: frank interest
4. an obsolete word for free, generous

verb (transitive)

1. 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
2. to mark (a letter, parcel, etc) with an official mark or signature, indicating the right of free delivery
3. to facilitate or assist (a person) to come and go, pass, or enter easily
4. to obtain immunity for or exempt (a person)

noun

1. an official mark or signature affixed to a letter, parcel, etc, ensuring free delivery or delivery without stamps

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French franc, from Medieval Latin francus free; identical with Frank (in Frankish Gaul only members of this people enjoyed full freedom)

ˈfrankable adjective

ˈfranker noun

ˈfrankness noun