Word
Definitions
01official permit
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Law American English
n. an official document that gives you permission to do or own something.
n. a formal document or permit issued by an authority granting permission to perform a specific action or own a specific item.
日本語:免許※
Español:licencia
“You must carry your driver's license whenever you are behind the wheel.”
“The restaurant was forced to close temporarily after failing to renew its liquor license before the annual deadline.”
Usage
In American English, 'license' is used for both the noun and the verb.
Pitfall
I need to renew my driving licence.
I need to renew my driver's license.
In American English, the spelling is 'license' for both the noun and verb; in British English, the noun is spelled 'licence'.
Synonyms
02software/usage terms
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Computing American English
n. the legal rules that say how you are allowed to use a product, like a computer program.
n. the legal terms and conditions governing the use of intellectual property, particularly software or media.
日本語:ライセンス※
“Please read the software license before you click the install button.”
“The company purchased a site license that allowed all five hundred employees to use the design software simultaneously.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'end-user license agreement' (EULA).
03creative freedom
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the freedom to change facts or break rules to create a special effect, especially in art or writing.
n. intentional deviation from fact, convention, or standard rules for artistic or rhetorical effect.
Español:licencia
“The director took some poetic license with the history to make the movie more exciting.”
“While the biographer was praised for his prose, critics noted he took considerable artistic license with the timeline of the subject's early life.”
Usage
Commonly appears in the fixed phrases 'poetic license' or 'artistic license'.
Antonyms
04to give permission
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law
v. to give someone official or legal permission to do something.
v. to grant official or legal authority to an individual or organization to perform a specific activity.
Español:licenciar
“The city decided to license three new taxi companies this year.”
“The medical board is responsible for licensing doctors to ensure they meet the national standards for patient care.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “license” in context.
Verb
01. grant a license
“The government will grant a license to the telecommunications company to operate the new network.”
verb + noun
02. renew a license
“You must renew your professional license every two years to remain eligible for practice.”
verb + noun
03. revoke a license
“The local council decided to revoke the restaurant's liquor license after several safety violations.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. artistic license
“She exercised artistic license when painting the landscape, changing the colors of the sky.”
adj + noun
05. poetic license
“The director took some poetic license with the historical facts to make the film more dramatic.”
adj + noun
06. valid license
“Please ensure you have a valid license before attempting to operate the heavy machinery.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. driver's license
“He was asked to show his driver's license as a form of identification at the gate.”
noun + noun
08. license to print money
“Owning the only gas station in this remote town is practically a license to print money.”
noun + infinitive
09. license plate
Confusables
British English distinguishes between the noun licence and the verb license, while American English uses license for both forms.
RememberLicence is the noun (like Practice); License is the verb (like Practise).
Real-World Examples
“Flock, based in Atlanta, Georgia, operates some 120,000 cameras across the US that capture images of vehicles and licence plates for storage in a searchable database.” “Anutin ordered a raft of gun control measures, including a short-term ban on new licences, import restrictions and the banning of people under 20 years old from shooting ranges.” “She also said he could not be relied on to comply with licence requirements "especially when to do so might endanger his idea of himself as a victim".” “Under former Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the UK paused free trade talks with Israel and suspended some arms export licences.” Etymology
From Middle English licence, licens, lisence, lissens, licance, from Old French licence, from Latin licentia (“license”), from licens, present participle of licere (“to be allowed, be allowable”); compare linquere, Ancient Greek λείπω (leípō, “leave”).
From Middle English licencen, licensen, lisensen, licent, from Old French licencer, licencier, licenciier, licenser, from Medieval Latin licentiō (cf. English licentiate).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/license
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0