Word
licensed
Phoneticsli·censed, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫaɪsənst/
UK/lˈaɪsənsd/
Definitions
01having official permission
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law
adj. having a legal document or official permission to do a specific job or activity.
adj. having been issued a formal licence by a governing or regulatory authority to perform a specific function.
Español:licenciado
“You must be a licensed driver to operate a vehicle on public roads.”
“The state requires all licensed electricians to complete a safety course every two years to maintain their professional standing.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it modifies.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02permitted to sell alcohol
B2 · Upper Intermediate British English
adj. describing a place, like a restaurant or shop, that has permission to sell alcohol.
adj. authorized by law to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on or off the premises.
“We looked for a licensed restaurant so we could have a glass of wine with dinner.”
“The hotel bar is a fully licensed premises, allowing guests to enjoy spirits in the lounge until midnight.”
Teaching tip
In British English, a 'licensed grocer' or 'licensed premises' specifically refers to the legal right to sell alcohol.
Synonyms
03gave official permission
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. the past tense of 'license', meaning to give someone official permission.
v. the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'license', meaning to grant a formal permit.
“The government licensed the new radio station to broadcast across the city.”
“The software company licensed its proprietary encryption technology to several smaller firms for a significant annual fee.”
Usage
This is the past tense form; in American English, both the noun and verb are often spelled with an 's', while British English uses 'c' for the noun and 's' for the verb.
Pitfall
The city licence the new taxi company.
The city licensed the new taxi company.
Use the '-ed' ending for the past tense action of giving a permit.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Th drug is licensed for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or those with a BMI of between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related condition.” “The Ervebo vaccine is licensed for use against the Ebola virus – one of the viruses that cause Ebola disease – but not for Bundibugyo.” - 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/licensed
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0