license
LEYE-suhns
Also spelled licence (UK spelling)
License (noun) means the American spelling of the noun licence: an official document or permission to own, use or do something. In British English the noun is spelled licence and license is the verb. Example: “She showed her driver's license at the desk.”
noun
1
The American spelling of the noun licence: an official document or permission to own, use or do something. In British English the noun is spelled licence and license is the verb.
"She showed her driver's license at the desk."
"You need a license to fish in this river, according to the sign."
"The shop owner applied for a license to sell music at the weekend market."
verb
1
To give official permission or authorization to do something.
"The city licenses food trucks to operate on public streets."
"She was licensed to practice law in three states."
"The council will license only a few new market stalls in the town square this year."
2
To grant or obtain formal permission to use a piece of intellectual property, often for payment.
"The studio licensed the song for use in the commercial."
"The museum licenses its photographs to magazines and charges a fee for each use."
"If you want to use that font in your app, you must license it first."
How to use license
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo officially authorize something, or to pay for the right to use someone else's work.
UK vs US
American English uses "license" for both the verb and noun; British English reserves "licence" for the noun and "license" for the verb.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
license a product
licensed to drive
license out
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like license.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- licenses
- Past tense
- licensed
- Noun form
- licence
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She showed her driver's _____ at the desk.
Etymology
From Middle English licencen, from Old French licencier, from Medieval Latin licentio.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for license
See all rhymes for license →Frequently asked questions
What does “license” mean?
The word “license” means to give official permission or authorization to do something. In plain terms, to officially authorize something, or to pay for the right to use someone else's work.
How do you pronounce “license”?
“License” is pronounced LEYE-suhns (/ˈlaɪ.səns/ in IPA).
How do you use “license” in a sentence?
Here is “license” used in a sentence: “The city licenses food trucks to operate on public streets.”
What part of speech is “license”?
“License” is a verb.
Where does the word “license” come from?
The word “license” comes from Medieval Latin. From Middle English licencen, from Old French licencier, from Medieval Latin licentio.
Is “license” a common word?
“License” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “license” have?
“License” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to give official permission or authorization to do something.
What is the difference between license and licence?
In American English, "license" covers both the verb and the noun. In British English, "license" is the verb and "licence" is the noun — so an authority licenses a driver, who then holds a licence. The meaning is identical; only the spelling splits by part of speech, and only in British usage.
What does it mean to license something?
To license something is to grant official permission for it — allowing a person or company to legally do, use, sell, or produce something. A council might license a venue to sell alcohol, or a studio might license its characters to a toy maker in return for fees.
Can you license a product or idea?
Yes. Licensing lets the owner of a brand, product, patent, or creative work grant others the right to use it under agreed terms and payment. The owner keeps ownership while the licensee gains permission. It is common with software, music, franchises, and merchandise, and is often a major source of income.
How do you remember license vs licence?
A common British tip borrows from "advise" and "advice": the spelling with an "s" is the verb (advise, license) and the one with a "c" is the noun (advice, licence). Since an "s" word does the action, "license" is the doing word. American English simply uses "license" for both.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include license:
